Application of Multi-metallic Compounds in Fuel Cells

Direct alcohol fuel cells are one of the interesting novel power sources has been extensively studied for stationary and portable miniature electric devices due to their high efficiency and low emissions of pollutants [1]. However, there are some challenges to developing this type of fuel cells. For example, introducing new economic and efficient catalysts [2] or reducing the poisoning and inactivation of the catalyst by impurities or products of alcohol oxidation on the anode electrode [3]. Pt and Pd are two common commercial catalysts in alcohol fuel cells. These noble metals are expensive and to reduce the loading amount and enhance the catalytic effect of them, researchers put efforts on the investigation of their bimetallic and/or trimetallic compositions. Studies show when we use these compositions, a synergic effect (according to volcano plots and d-band centre theory) could be observed and also may the poisoning of the catalyst layer be reduced. In this presentation, we focus on our recent studies on Ag-Pd bimetallic catalyst for methanol and ethanol oxidation.