Promotion and Characterization of PtAu/C Cathode Catalysts for Oxidation Reduction Reaction

  • Mr Chen-Wei Liu, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University,Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Prof Chuin-Tih Yeh, Fuel Cell Center, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan,, Taiwan
  • Prof Kuan-Wen Wang, nstitute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University,Taiwan, Taiwan

    • Alloy catalysts of Pt-Au/C with different Pt/Au ratios were prepared by the co-precipitation method and activated by a hydrogen reduction at 470 K. The surface composition of alloy crystallites deposited on the prepared catalysts was characterized by the temperature programmed reduction (TPR) method. Temperature required, in TPR characterization, for reduction of the adsorbed oxygen varied with the surface composition of the alloy crystallites. Au rich alloy catalyst has a much high oxophilicity. The chemisorbed catalyst exhibited a high reducibility (low Tr) on comparing with those adsorbed on Pt. Catalytic activity of alloy catalysts was examined by the electrochemical test for the oxidation reduction reaction. Current density obtained from the alloy catalyst was found to be enhanced by the promotion of CeO2. Accordingly, the activity of Pt/C catalysts in the cathode of PEMFC is improved by appropriately alloying with Au and modification of CeO2.