Abstract
To reduce the effect of methanol permeated from the anode, the structure of the cathode was modified from a single layer with Pt black catalyst to two-layer with PtRh black and Pt black catalysts, respectively. The current density of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using the two-layer cathode was improved to 228 mA/cm-2 compared to that (180 mA/cm-2) of the DMFC using the single layer cathode at 0.3 V and 303 K. From the cyclic voltammograms (CVs), it is indicated that the amount of adsorbates on the metal catalyst in the two-layer cathode is less than that of adsorbates in the single layer cathode after methanol test. In addition, the adsorbates were removed very rapidly by electrochemical oxidation from the two-layer cathode. It is suggested fromex situ X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis that the d-electron vacancy of Pt atom in the two-layer cathode is not changed by the methanol test. Thus, Pt is not covered with the adsorbates, which agrees well with the results of CV.
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Pak, C., Lee, S.J., Lee, SA. et al. The effect of two-layer cathode on the performance of the direct methanol fuel cell. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 22, 214–218 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02701487
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02701487