Carbon supported Pt–Cr alloys as oxygen-reduction catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

Electrocatalytic activities of various carbon-supported platinum–chromium alloy electrocatalysts towards oxygen reduction in 1 mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄ and in 1 mol l⁻¹ H₂SO₄/1–3 mol l⁻¹ CH₃OH, were investigated by means of rotating disc electrode experiments and in solid polymer electrolyte direct methanol fuel cells. The activity of these electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. It was found that Pt₉Cr/C prepared by reduction with NaBH₄ exhibits the lowest activity for methanol oxidation and the highest activity for oxygen reduction in the presence of methanol, in comparison to commercial Pt/C, Pt₃Cr/C and PtCr/C electrocatalysts.