Novel system of electro-catalysts for methanol oxidation based on platinum and organic metal complexes

Novel system of electro-catalysts was developed for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in direct methanol fuel cells. Mixture of platinum tetraammine complex with cobalt quinolyldiamine complex with various mixing ratio was supported on graphite powder, and heat treated at 400-1000degreesC in argon atmosphere. Powder thus obtained was put on a graphite disk electrode, and tested for electrochemical MOR in acid media. Although the cobalt complex itself showed almost no catalytic ability for MOR, it enhanced the activity of Pt more than several 10-fold when it was mixed with Pt. MOR performance was best exploited at about equal mixing ratio of platinum and cobalt complexes. Compared with platinum-ruthenium alloy catalysts, the new catalysts exhibited promising catalytic ability. The present investigation revealed good potentiality of organic complex catalysts in combination with metal catalysts for MOR, which opens the way to synthesize and develop a new class of electro-catalysts of low cost through wide range of molecular designing. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.