Electrochemical characteristics of chloride ion modified Pt cathode in direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

We investigated electrochemical characteristics of chloride ion modified Pt (PtClm-) electrode in the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol, oxidation/reduction behaviours of Pt, adsorption/desorption phenomena of hydrogen. Comparing with pure Pt surface, PtClm- maintained the adsorption activity of proton, hindered oxidation of Pt, induced less binding energy between oxygen and Pt surface. It resulted in the decrease of overpotential of oxygen reduction reaction on the cathodic scan. Thus, PtClm- could increase power performance of direct methanol fuel cell. In addition to activity of PtClm-, the long-term durability of PtClm- cathode was also investigated and it had about five times longer stability. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.