A PtCo catalyst with an ordered cubic primitive structure was synthesized and investigated for the application as a cathode in direct methanol fuel cells. The synthesis involved the preparation of an amorphous PtOx/C precursor by the sulfite complex route, an impregnation with Co(NO3)(2), a high temperature (800 degrees C) carbothermal reduction and, finally, a leaching procedure. This method led to the occurrence of a Pt3Co/C catalyst with a primitive cubic ordered (L1(2)) phase and a mean crystallite size of 3.3 nm, as well as a suitable degree of alloying. This electrocatalyst was investigated for the oxygen reduction reaction in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) operating in the range 30-90 degrees C. At 60 degrees C, under atmospheric pressure, a maximum power density of 40 mW cm(-2) was obtained with the new PtCo catalyst formulation at low noble metal loading on the electrode (1 mg cm(-2)). This performance was 2.3 times higher than a benchmark Pt catalyst used for comparison. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PtCo catalyst with modulated surface characteristics for the cathode of direct methanol fuel cells
Baglio V;D'Urso C;Sebastian D;Stassi A;
2014
Abstract
A PtCo catalyst with an ordered cubic primitive structure was synthesized and investigated for the application as a cathode in direct methanol fuel cells. The synthesis involved the preparation of an amorphous PtOx/C precursor by the sulfite complex route, an impregnation with Co(NO3)(2), a high temperature (800 degrees C) carbothermal reduction and, finally, a leaching procedure. This method led to the occurrence of a Pt3Co/C catalyst with a primitive cubic ordered (L1(2)) phase and a mean crystallite size of 3.3 nm, as well as a suitable degree of alloying. This electrocatalyst was investigated for the oxygen reduction reaction in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) operating in the range 30-90 degrees C. At 60 degrees C, under atmospheric pressure, a maximum power density of 40 mW cm(-2) was obtained with the new PtCo catalyst formulation at low noble metal loading on the electrode (1 mg cm(-2)). This performance was 2.3 times higher than a benchmark Pt catalyst used for comparison. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
