Ruthenium as a CO-tolerant hydrogen oxidation catalyst for solid acid fuel cells

Carbon supported Ru nanoparticles were implemented in composite anodes of fuel-generating hydrogen pumps and electricity-generating fuel cells based on the inorganic proton conductor CsH2PO4. In cells operating at 250 degrees C, Ru catalysts are more tolerant to CO than Pt at cell currents greater than 500 mA cm(-2) and are stable in a fuel stream containing 10% CO for over 160 hours. Hydrogen-air fuel cells fabricated with Ru-based anodes performed comparably to those with Pt-based anodes in both pure hydrogen and in a hydrogen-rich simulated reformate containing 10% CO.