Preparation and Research of AuNi Cathode Catalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract:

AuNi alloy was synthesized by vacuum arc melting in high-purity argon atmosphere. The AuNi alloy was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of EDS indicated that Au and Ni atoms were well-distributed in the alloy. Moreover, the results of XPS exhibited an electronic transfer from Ni to Au in AuNi phase. The Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and the methanol tolerance of the AuNi alloy were respectively investigated using the RDE method and the electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. The results suggested that O₂ was directly oxidized to H₂O on the AuNi catalyst via an approximate four-electron reduction pathway, and that the AuNi catalyst had a high electrocatalytic activity for the ORR and an acceptable methanol tolerance, simultaneously.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 130-134)
• Pages: 1039-1043
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.130-134.1039
• Online since: October 2011
• Authors: Shao Hui Yan, Wei Li Zhu, Shi Chao Zhang
• Keywords: AuNi Alloy, Cathode Catalyst, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC), Oxygen Reduction Reaction

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