Pt/WC as an anode catalyst for PEMFC: Activity and CO tolerance

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2007.12.076
• Publication Date: 2008-01-24T20:57:35Z
• Authors: Dong Jin Ham; Young Kwon Kim; Seung Hyun Han; Jae Sung Lee
• Keywords: ELECTROCATALYSTS; Pt/WC; Pu/WC; hydrogen oxidation; PTRU; CO tolerance; fuel cells; Mesoporous; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy; ACID; METHANOL; MOLYBDENUM CARBIDE CATALYSTS; METHANOL OXIDATION; Hydrogen oxidation; mesoporous; Fuel cells; 0210 nano-technology; TUNGSTEN CARBIDE

Abstract A mesoporous tungsten carbide of WC-phase was synthesized by using ammonium meta tungstate as tungsten precursor and resorcinol–formaldehyde polymer as carbon source in the presence of a surfactant. The platinum supported on this material with a low loading (7.5 wt%) served as an effective CO tolerant electro anode catalyst. The Pt/WC catalyst showed two times higher activity per mass of Pt for hydrogen electro-oxidation compared to a commercial Pt/C catalyst (E-Teck). In addition, it exhibited much improved resistance to CO poisoning relative to the Pt/C catalyst. Since the catalyst is also stable in electrochemical environment, it could become an alternative anode catalyst for PEMFC.