Novel O2-enhanced methanol oxidation performance at Pt-Ru-C sputtered anode in direct methanol fuel cell

We have developed a novel anode catalyst for the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). A Pt-Ru-C electrode was prepared by a co-sputtering technique and compared with Pt and Pt-Ru sputtered electrodes for the methanol electro-oxidation reaction. The prepared Pt-Ru-C electrode with a specific atomic ratio showed a remarkable O2-enhanced methanol oxidation performance by O2 addition to methanol as a fuel. For practical utilization, the relationship between the O2-enhanced methanol oxidation activity and the thermal stability of the Pt-Ru-C sputtered electrode was evaluated using a post-annealing treatment. It is found that the O2-enhanced methanol oxidation activity of the Pt-Ru-C electrodes is retained if the annealing temperature is less than or equal to 100 °C. Finally, the DMFC performance was assessed using a single DMFC cell incorporating a membrane electrode assembly with Pt-Ru-C which was hot-pressed at 100 °C. The O2-enhanced methanol oxidation was observed at a single DMFC cell also. Moreover, the enhanced reaction was recognized in DMFC power generation by feeding methanol and oxygen to the anode and oxygen to the cathode.