Advanced carbon supported PtRu catalysts for DMFC

The PEMFCs are the most suitable FCs for automotive application and those with methanol fuel (DMFC) compared to those with H2 present the advantage of an easier fuel feeding and storage and the disadvantage to require an efficient electrocatalyst also at the negative electrode for methanol oxidation. The carbon supported PtRu catalysts are recognized to be the most promising, and an optimized Pt to Ru atomic ratio, nanometric dimensions of the particles and their uniform distribution on carbon support improve the catalytic activity towards the methanol oxidation. To enhance the mass- specific activity of carbon supported PtRu catalysts we focused our efforts on PtRu catalysts electrodeposited on carbon-Nafion supports prepared by spray technique with carbons of different specific surface area from 254 m2g-1 to 1040 m2g-1. The results of the electrochemical, structural and morphological characterisations of such supported PtRu catalysts are presented in this contribution to evidence how carbon-Nafion supports of different accessible surface area, different conditions and electrodeposition techniques, and different Pt to C mass ratio, affect the mass- specific activity of the PtRu catalysts for methanol oxidation in DMFC.