Direct methanol fuel cell electrocatalysts role

Rolison DR, Hagans PL, Swider KE, Long JW (1999) Role of hydrous rathenium oxide in Pt — Ru direct methanol fuel cell anode electrocatalysts the importance of mixed electron/ proton conductivity. Langmuir 15(3) 774—779... 

DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS—ROLE OF ELECTROCATALYSTS... 

Here, M represents the electronically conducting electrode material (e.g.. Ft) that is not involved in the overall reaction and plays the role of an electrocatalyst for the reaction. The last intermediate step occurs in two identical consecutive steps since electron transfer occurs by quantum mechanical tunneling, which involves only one electron transfer at a time. When multistep reactions take place, there is the possibility of parallel-intermediate steps. The parallel-step reactions could lead to the same final product or to different products. Direct electro-oxidation of organic fuels, such as hydrocarbons or alcohols, in a fuel cell exhibits this behavior. For instance, in the case of methanol, a six-electron transfer, complete oxidation to carbon dioxide can occur consecutively in six or more consecutive steps. In addition, partially oxidized reaction products could arise, producing formaldehyde and formic acid in parallel reactions. These, in turn, could then be oxidized to methanol. 

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