Synthesis of Highly Active Pd@Cu-Pt/C Methanol Oxidation Electrocatalysts via Continuous, Co-Electroless Deposition.

Gregory L Tate,John R Monnier,Bahareh Alsadat Tavakoli Mehrabadi,Adam Kenvin,Wen Xiong

doi:10.3390/nano11030793

Gregory L Tate, John R Monnier + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030793

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Abstract

Controlled deposition of metals is essential for the creation of bimetallic catalysts having predictable composition and character. Continuous co-electroless deposition (co-ED) permits the creation of bimetallic catalysts with predictive control over composition. This method was applied to create a suite of Cu–Pt mixed-metal shell catalysts for use in methanol electrooxidation in direct methanol fuel cell applications (DMFCs). Enhanced performance of Cu–Pt compositions over Pt alone was predicted by existing computational studies in the literature. Experimental evidence from this study supports the bifunctional catalyst explanation for enhanced activity and confirms the optimum Cu:Pt ratio as Cu3Pt for this methanol electrooxidation. This ability to control the composition of a bimetallic shell can be extended to other systems where the ratio of two metals is critical for catalytic performance.

Highlights

The move toward more environmentally sound transportation and portable power devices has been an important focus of research in recent years
The results clearly show that PtCl6 2− is reduced much more rapidly than Cu2+, possibly because of the higher reduction potential of
Continuous co-electroless deposition (co-electroless deposition (ED)) provides a way to make shells of mixed-metal composition with highly controlled ratios of constituent metals. This technique was successfully applied for the creation of methanol electrooxidation catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell applications (DMFCs) applications

Summary

Introduction

The move toward more environmentally sound transportation and portable power devices has been an important focus of research in recent years. Fuel cells have provided an alternative way to supply power since the 1960s [1]. There are bottlenecks, one being the low-energy density of hydrogen (10.8 MJ/m3 at STP) and the challenges of storing, metering, and transporting a highly compressed and flammable gas [2]. A promising alternative technology is to replace H2 with methanol as a hydrogen source. Methanol is much more energy-dense (18.1 GJ/m3 at STP) than H2 and exists as a “drop-in”. Existing gasoline metering and distribution can be converted to methanol without much difficulty

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