Electrodeposition of Carbon Monoxide Tolerant Electrocatalysts

Application of liquid fuels in fuel cells is attracting attention mostly for transportation and portable applications. A DMFC uses methanol, water vapor, and air. The MEAs used in DMFCs are 

According to the ligand model, Ru atoms interact with the conduction band of Pt surface and weaken the Pt-CO bonds and, thus, 

Although powder routes have been successfully developed for synthesis of catalysts used in low temperature fuel cells, electrodeposition offers the highest noble metal utilization and is preferred over the alternative chemical methods. Electrodeposition enables the formation of catalyst particles on specific sites where they can be essentially utilized, i.e., the triple phase boundary where the membrane (ionic conductor), electrode (electronic conductor), and reactants meet. Powder methods do not guarantee that all catalyst particles are in contact with both electrode and membrane materials, and therefore, a portion of catalyst particles may remain inactive. 

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