Decorated PtRu Electrocatalyst for Concentrated Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Abstract Increment in methanol concentration can logically improve the fuel cell performance of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) to address the sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Thus, development in anodic electrocatalyst for concentrated methanol oxidation becomes highly important. Here, we report a facile method to promote the PtRu electrocatalyst's catalytic activity in concentrated methanol by polymer coating, which affords a higher CO tolerance and thus leads to a better MOR activity. As a consequence, the fuel cell performance is 2.5 times higher relative to benchmark CB/PtRu if 4 M methanol is used. Superior stability and CO tolerance are simultaneously achieved thanks to the PBI coating. Thus, the polymer decorated PtRu electrocatalyst can potentially utilized as anodic electrocatalyst for concentrated DMFC application.