PtRu/C-Au/TiO2 electrocatalyst for a direct methanol fuel cell

Au/TiO₂ is added to a PtRu/C electrode to improve the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). A high-throughput-screening test is performed for the fast screening of the loading of Au/TiO₂ on PtRu/C. The electrochemically-active surface area of PtRu/C-Au/TiO₂ and PtRu/C is determined from cyclic voltammetry. In CO-stripping and methanol oxidation voltammetry, PtRu/C-Au/TiO₂ exhibits better activity for CO and methanol oxidation than PtRu/C. The performance of the DMFC is also improved by addition of Au/TiO₂ to the PtRu/C electrode. The CO adsorbed on Pt may move to the surface of the Au/TiO₂ by the interaction between PtRu/C and Au/TiO₂. The improved performance of the PtRu/C-Au/TiO₂ catalyst is explained in terms of preferential oxidation of CO or CO-like poisoning species that are generated during the oxidation of methanol on PtRu/C.