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Categories: advanced materials, energy

BSA 99-05: Anodes to Oxidize Alcohol in Fuel Cells

BNL Reference Number: BSA 99-05

Summary

Higher current indicates higher activity for catalyzing methanol oxidation in a fuel cell. Here the ternary electrocatalyst is comparable to the best commercially available catalyst for methanol oxidation.

Platinum is an excellent catalyst and electrocatalyst. It is also expensive and vulnerable to poisoning by carbon monoxide in the reaction environment. By supporting platinum on nickel or cobalt tungstate, the amount of platinum necessary to achieve the same catalytic activity for oxidizing alcohol in a fuel cell is reduced, as is the tendency for the platinum to lose its activity during contact with carbon monoxide. Adding about ten percent ruthenium or molybdenum oxide to the binary catalysts improved the performance even more. The higher tolerance for carbon monoxide may also be exploited in fuel cells that use gaseous fuels, such as less-pure hydrogen.

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For more information about this technology, contact Kimberley Elcess, (631) 344-4151.