Novel CO tolerant anode catalysts for PEFC based on platinum and organic metal complexes

摘要

A series of new CO tolerant anode catalysts for reformate type polymer electrolyte fuel cells are proposed that are superior to state-of-the-art Pt-Ru metal alloy catalysts. Composite catalysts based on platinum and metal complex were fabricated by a new procedure where carbon supported platinum precursor and nitrogen containing organic metal complex were heat-treated in Ar atmosphere at temperatures from 300 to 600 degrees C (abbreviated as Pt-M(complex)/C). Catalysts were loaded on a carbon paper and hot pressed on one side of Nafion 115 membrane (half-MEA), and CO tolerance tests were conducted inthe anode half-cell at 70 degrees C with H-2 containing various levels of CO. Also single fuel cell performance was measured with full MEA in H-2(CO) and Air gas flowing at the anode and cathode chambers. Compared with commercial Pt-Ru/C catalysts, new class of anode catalysts Pt-M(complex)/C proved to be very promising both in initial and long term performances, also in view of a wide variety of molecular designing and the low cost of the organic complexes synthesized.