Abstract
In this study, Pt/Pd (1.1), PtPd (2:1) and PtPd (3:1) binary catalysts and Pt/Ru/Pd (5:4:1) ternary catalyst were designed. The catalysts were synthesized by impregnation method using $NaBH_4$ as a reducing agent. A good catalyst for methanol oxidation requires low on-set potential, stable durability and low activation energy. In order to investigate the catalytic activity for the methanol oxidation, electrochemical measurements such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were peformed in sulfuric acid with/without methanol solution. In order to calculate the activation energy of the reaction, electrochemical measurements were also tested at different temperatures. For investigation of the structural analysis such as particle size and alloying, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis were used. In order to identify the role of the Pd and to determine the composition of the surface of the Pt/Pd nanoparticles, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was investigated. The XPS spectra of Pd showed that Pd appears only as a metallic state in the binary catalysts. The chemical states of Pt in PtPd catalysts are both metallic and oxidative. Polarization curves and power density data were obtained by testing the DMFC unit cell performance of PtPd and PtRuPd catalysts. These data showed that Pt/Pd (2:1) and Pt/Ru/Pd (5:4:1) have better performance than Pt and Pt/Ru, respectively.