IrPdRu/C as H2 Oxidation Catalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cells

H-2 oxidation kinetics on Pt in alkaline media are very sluggish, being over 100 times slower than in acidic media, and thus, new and more active H-2 oxidation electrocatalysts must be developed in order to enable alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). In this Communication, we present a new type of catalysts carbon-supported IrPdRu nanoparticles as H-2 oxidation catalysts in alkaline media. These catalysts exhibit higher activity than Pt/C and Ir/C catalysts and are also quite stable. In particular, Ir3Ru7/C and Ir3Pd1Ru6/C catalysts are significantly more active and less expensive than Pt/C and Ir/C, and are thus promising new anode catalysts for alkaline fuel cell applications.