Carbon supported Pt and Au nanoparticles with small particle size and narrow size distribution were synthesized through a solution-phased based nanocapsule method. The single anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) with the self-prepared Pt/C and Au/C anode, and non-PGM cathode catalysts have demonstrated high electricity generation performance. i.e. the AEMFC with 1.0 mg/cm2 FeCu-N4/C cathode catalyst and 1.0 mg/cm2 Pt/C anode catalyst has shown a peak power density over 120 mW/cm2 at 80oC and 2 atm backpressure of O2. On Pt/C catalyst, EG oxidation proceeds through C-C bond breaking (CO2) route, while on Au/C catalyst, the major EG oxidation product is oxalic acid, and formic acid (due to C-C bond cleavage) is almost not observed. It was also found that the fuel cell operation voltage (anode overpotential) has a strong effect on the EG oxidation product distribution. The detailed mechanism study on electrocatalytic oxidation of EG in high pH media will also be presented.

Selective oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) on supported Pt and Au nanoparticle anode catalysts in anion exchange membrane fuel cells

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.