Ruthenium selenide catalysts for cathodic oxygen reduction in direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

The oxygen reduction reaction in sulphuric acid on commercial carbon supported platinum and ruthenium catalysts as well as on a home-made carbon supported ruthenium selenide catalysts (RuSe x /C) was investigated. The RuSe x /C catalysts were synthesised using similar procedures to those found in the literature. A dependency of H2O2 formation on the selenium content was found using the thin-film rotating ring disc electrode technique, namely that the H2O2 formation in the typical operation range of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (0.7-0.4 V) on Pt/C is below 1% and 1-4% on Ru/C and RuSe x /C catalysts. Finally for comparing the intrinsic activities of the catalysts the electrochemically active surface areas were determined in-situ by means of copper underpotential deposition. Our results indicate a comparable activity of the present RuSe x /C catalyst to commercial Pt/C if the activities are related to the electrochemical active areas

Platinum and Non‐Platinum Nanomaterials for the Molecular Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…This type of compound has been intensely studied by other groups in the world. [48,[75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83] The ORR analysis on non-supported thin layers of Ru x Se y have generally shown small amounts (< 4 %) of released hydrogen peroxide. [84] The same level was found on carbon-supported material (mass loading of 28 mg cm À2 ).…”

Electrochemical Versus Heat‐Engine Energy Technology: A Tribute to Wilhelm Ostwald’s Visionary Statements

“…Some TEM images of carbon-supported catalysts are shown in Figure 8. [33,34] These catalysts must be improved in the future using the knowledge gained in recent investigations on model systems. …”

Energietechnologie: Elektrochemie gegen Wärmekraftmaschinen – ein Tribut an Wilhelm Ostwalds visionäre Aussagen

“…[33,34] Mithilfe der aus Modellsystemen gewonnenen Erkenntnisse sollten sich diese Katalysatoren in Zukunft verbessern lassen.…”