A New PtRu Anode Formed by Thermal Decomposition for the Direct Method Fuel Cell

Abstract

New PtRu catalyst anodes for methanol oxidation were prepared by a thermal decomposition method on titanium mesh supports. The supports employed were: Single layer (titanium mesh), double layer (two layers of titanium mesh were spot-welded together), and triple layer (two layers of titanium mesh with carbon paper between were spot-welded together). The catalytic activity of such anodes for the oxidation of methanol was characterized using galvanostatic measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in combination with scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the PtRu catalyst thermally decomposed on the double-layer mesh support exhibited a higher catalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation than those supported on carbon powders. Preliminary direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) data show that the power density of the DMFC with the new anode is higher than that with carbon-supported anodes. A further increase in power density for the DMFC with the new anodes is expected with optimization of the mesh support with regard to structure, mesh material, and catalyst coating methods.