Ruthenium cluster-like chalcogenide as a methanol tolerant cathode catalyst in air-breathing laminar flow fuel cells

Devin T. Whipple, Ranga S. Jayashree, Daniela Egas, Nicolas Alonso-Vante, Paul J.A. Kenis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper reports the incorporation of a cluster-like RuxSey as a methanol tolerant cathode catalyst in a laminar flow fuel cell. The effect on cell performance of several concentrations of methanol in the cathode stream was investigated for the RuxSey catalyst and compared to a conventional platinum catalyst. While the Pt catalyst exhibited up to ∼80% drop in power density, the RuxSey catalyst showed no decrease in performance when the cathode was exposed to methanol. At several methanol concentrations the RuxSey catalyst performed better than the Pt catalyst. This demonstration of a methanol tolerant catalyst in a laminar flow fuel cell opens up the way for further miniaturization of the cell design and simplification of its operation as the need for an electrolyte stream to prevent fuel crossover has been eliminated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4384-4388
Number of pages5
JournalElectrochimica Acta
Volume54
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 2009

Keywords

  • Fuel cell
  • Laminar flow
  • Methanol tolerant catalyst
  • Oxygen reduction
  • Ruthenium-selenium catalyst

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrochemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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