CO electrooxidation study on Pt and Pt-Ru in H3PO4 using MEA with PBI-H3PO4 membrane

CO electrooxidation on Pt and Pt-Ru in H3PO4 was studied in the temperature range 120-180 °C using CO-N2-H2O gas mixtures of controlled composition. On Pt and Pt-Ru the voltammetry curves exhibited Tafel behavior in a wide potential range with a slope of 80-100 mV per decade. Replacement of Pt with Pt-Ru on the anode resulted mainly in a shift of CO electrooxidation voltammetry curves by approx. −0.3 V. Reaction order in respect to water vapor pressure was found close to unity with both electrocatalysts. Reaction order in respect to CO partial pressure was found negative, close to zero. Values of apparent activation energy of CO electrooxidation on these electrocatalysts were nearly equal, Ea app = 110 ± 15 kJ mol−1. The results were interpreted within the framework of Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. An equation, which describes the observed features of CO electrooxidation on Pt and Pt-Ru, was suggested. Comparing results of the present study with results of earlier studies of CO tolerance of Pt and Pt-Ru electrocatalysts, it was concluded that CO electrooxidation can hardly play a significant role in CO tolerance of PEM FC with PBI-PA membranes.