Modification of palladium-based catalysts by chalcogenes for direct methanol fuel cells

Palladium-based catalysts, such as PdSx/C and PdSex/C, have been developed as oxygen reduction catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells. Pd/C catalysts containing chalcogens have been synthesized and tested for oxygen reduction and the results have been analyzed based on changes in the palladium phase. Selenium addition to the catalyst promotes the oxygen reduction due to the modification of the palladium surface. However, sulfur reduces the oxygen reduction activity to a great extent as a result of semi-amorphous palladium phase formation. Both PdSx/C and PdSex/C are highly methanol tolerant.