Oxygen Reduction Activity of Thermally Decomposed Tetraphenylporphyrin as Cathode Catalyst of DMFC

Abstract

DMFC has a serious technical problem, which is called "crossover". The crossover CH3OH, which passes through the polymer electrolyte from the anode to cathode, usually adsorbs on the surface of the cathode catalyst (Pt black) that decreases the DMFC performance. In this study, tetraphenylporphine and tetraphenylporphyrin-metals (metals: Co, Mn and Ru) were thermally decomposed at 673-1173 K for 7.2 ks and the activity of the oxygen reduction of the product was investigated using a rotating disk electrode in order to develop a new cathode catalyst with CH3OH tolerance. The thermally decomposed TPP-Co and TPP-Ru, which have no activity toward CH3OH oxidation, are possible materials as the cathode catalyst of the DMFC, thus being a substitute for the Pt black.

Methanol Oxidation Activities of Pt Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Reactive Sputtering

“…The total reaction of methanol oxidation can be represented by Equation (1). And the adsorbed CO on the Pt catalyst, which was produced by Equations (2) - (5), acts as a depressor of the methanol oxidation or a catalyst poison [7] :…”

“…The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), in which methanol is directly supplied to the anode, has been expected as a new powe rsource for portable computers and mobile phones [1] [2] . However, the DMFC has several technical problems.…”