PtPdCo ternary electrocatalyst for methanol tolerant oxygen reduction reaction in direct methanol fuel cell

•Methanol tolerable PtPdCo/C ternary electrocatalysts were prepared.•PtPdCo/C showed enhanced activity in the half-cell and the actual DMFC single-cell.•Long-term single-cell operation test was performed successfully.•PtPdCo/C can be used as a replacement for the cathode catalyst in DMFCs.

Carbon-supported PtPdCo/C ternary electrocatalysts were prepared by using the sodium borohydride method for use as a cathode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The electrocatalyst particles with a size of 2–3 nm were uniformly dispersed on carbon supports. PtPdCo/C showed a similar performance compared to commercial Pt/C in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) tests conducted with a rotating disk electrode (RDE). On the other hand, PtPdCo/C showed higher methanol tolerance than Pt/C in acidic media with methanol. In the single-cell tests, the performance of the PtPdCo/C electrocatalyst was approximately 50% higher than that of Pt/C owing to its enhanced methanol tolerance. In the long-term operation test with the single-cell, the maximum power density of PtPdCo/C decreased only by 14% from its initial value. These results indicate that the PtPdCo/C catalyst is potentially an alternative electrocatalyst for the cathode in DMFCs.

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