Methanol resistant cathodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Methanol-tolerant cathodic catalysts were successfully prepared by depositing platinum nanoparticles on heat-treated FeTPP/C [FeTPP stands for 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H, 23H porphine iron(III) chloride] and subsequently sintering the formed catalysts. Different sintering temperatures were investigated to determine its effect on methanol tolerance. Oxygen reduction with/without the presence of methanol on these new catalysts, Pt/C and FeTPP/C, was evaluated by means of potentiodynamic measurement in a rotating disk electrode system. Complete suppression of methanol oxidation while still maintaining high activity towards oxygen reduction was realized on the catalyst sintered at 700 degreesC. Kinetics analysis shows that oxygen reduction on this new catalyst still follows a first-order reaction and has a similar mechanism as that on the pure Pt electrocatalyst. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.