Screening of PdM and PtM catalysts in a multi-anode direct formic acid fuel cell

Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC) currently employ either Pt-based or Pd-based anode catalysts for oxidation of formic acid. However, improvements are needed in either the activity of Pt-based catalysts or the stability of Pd-based catalysts. In this study, a number of carbon-supported Pt-based and Pd-based catalysts, were prepared by co-depositing PdM (M = Bi, Mo, or V) on Vulcan^® XC-72 carbon black, or depositing another metal (Pb or Sn) on a Pt/C catalyst. These catalysts were systematically evaluated and compared with commercial Pd/C, PtRu/C, and Pt/C catalysts in a multi-anode DFAFC. The PtPb/C and PtSn/C catalysts were found to show significantly higher activities than the commercial Pt/C catalyst, while the PdBi/C provided higher stability than the commercial Pd/C catalyst.