Fabrication and evaluation of Pt–Fe alloys as methanol tolerant cathode materials for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Carbon-supported platinum–iron catalysts were prepared and characterised by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction techniques. The catalysts were tested for oxygen reduction in half-cells and in direct methanol fuel cells using voltammetric and steady-state polarisation measurements. Methanol oxidation was partially suppressed and higher net oxygen reduction currents were achieved at the PtFe/C cathodes, compared to the Pt alone. An increase in power density of up to 20–30% was achieved by using the PtFe/C rather than the Pt/C cathodes.