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Polypyrrole‐Modified‐Carbon‐Supported Ru‐Pt Nanoparticles as Highly Methanol‐Tolerant Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen‐Reduction Reaction
Author(s) -
Escudero Cid Ricardo,
Gómez de la Fuente José Luis,
Rojas Sergio,
García Fierro José Luis,
Ocón Pilar
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201300448
Subject(s) - polypyrrole , methanol , carbon black , carbon fibers , chemistry , electrochemistry , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , oxygen , polymerization , direct methanol fuel cell , electrolyte , materials science , nuclear chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , polymer , natural rubber , composite number , composite material , anode
Abstract The modification of mesoporous carbon black with polypyrrole (C‐PP) facilitates the incorporation of homogeneously dispersed nanosized Ru‐Pt particles (1–2 nm) onto the support. Polypyrrole‐modified carbon supports were prepared by the addition of different amounts of pyrrole, followed by in situ polymerization through oxidative treatments. The Ru‐Pt/C‐PP electrocatalysts were tested in the oxygen‐reduction reaction in methanol‐containing acidic electrolytes by using both conventional electrochemical techniques and in a direct methanol single cell. The performance of Ru‐Pt/C‐PP was far superior to that of Pt/C for the oxygen‐reduction reaction in the direct methanol fuel cell. Under severe methanol‐crossover conditions, the maximum power density that was delivered by Ru‐Pt/C‐PP after degradation tests was decreased by 20 %, whereas that of Pt/C decreased by 75 %. Thus, the presence of Ru oxides in the cathode led to more tolerant electrocatalysts towards the presence of methanol in the reaction medium during the oxygen‐reduction reaction.