Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of carbon-supported MnOx/Ru catalysts for methanol oxidation in fuel cells

This investigation reports the possible use of carbon-supported manganese octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) for the electrooxidation of methanol. The effect of combining these materials with a commercially available 5%Ru-carbon sample is examined. The activity of the OMS-2 materials is evaluated with respect to other forms of manganese oxides such as pyrolusite and nsutite. The OMS-2 materials show a synergistic interaction with the 5%Ru-C as well as the pyrolusite materials that enhances their electrochemical activities effectively. These OMS-2 materials are not only cost-effective but also very electrochemically active.