Investigation of Pd-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and their methanol tolerance

Cathode catalysts for Direct Methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) must have high catalytic activity for the Oxygen Reduction Re-action (ORR), lower cost than the benchmark Pt catalyst and high tolerance to methanol that permeates from the anode side to the cathode side through the membrane. 30% Pd/Ketjenblack (Pd/KB), 30% Pd/Vulcan (Pd/Vul) and 30% Pd/Titanium suboxides (Pd/TinO2n-1) have been synthesized and characterized, in terms of ORR, to evaluate their activity for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. By comparing Pd electrocatalysts with commercial 30% Pt/C, it can be noted that Pt/C, as it is known, is the more active electro-catalyst when an ideal acidic electrolyte is considered. Pd/KB is the most active electro-catalyst in acidic environment, when methanol crossover is taken into account.