Non-stoichiometric tungsten-carbide-oxide-supported Pt–Ru anode catalysts for PEM fuel cells – From basic electrochemistry to fuel cell performance

Abstract

Durability and cost of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are two major factors delaying their commercialization. Cost is associated with the price of the catalysts, while durability is associated with degradation and poisoning of the catalysts, primarily by CO. This motivated us to develop tungsten-carbide-oxide (WxCyOz) as a new non-carbon based catalyst support for Pt–Ru–based anode PEMFC catalyst. The aim was to improve performance and obtain higher CO tolerance compared to commercial catalysts. The performance of obtained PtRu/WxCyOz catalysts was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, linear scan voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry. Particular attention was given to the analysis of CO poisoning, to better understand how WxCyOz species can contribute to the CO tolerance of PtRu/WxCyOz. Improved oxidation of COads at low potentials (E < 0.5 V vs. RHE) was ascribed to OH provided by the oxide phase at the interfacial region between the support and the PtRu particles. On the other hand, at high potentials (E > 0.5 V vs. RHE) CO removal proceeds dominantly via OH provided from the oxidized metal sites. The obtained catalyst with the best performance (30% PtRu/WxCyOz) was tested as an anode catalyst in PEM fuel cell. When using synthetic reformate as a fuel in PEMFC, there is a significant power drop of 35.3 % for the commercial 30% PtRu/C catalyst, while for the PtRu/WxCyOz anode catalyst this drop is around 16 %.