关键词: 电化学, 燃料电池, 阳极催化剂, 催化剂载体, 催化剂活性, 抗CO毒性

Abstract:

Direct methanol fuel cells(DMFC) have become ideal new energy device to replace fossil energy supply due to their high efficiency and cleanliness. As an important part of the DMFC, the catalyst can reduce the reaction activation energy to solve the problem of high over-potential required for methanol electrooxidation. However, the current DMFC anode catalyst has problems such as low catalytic activity, poor anti-CO toxicity, and high cost, which limit the commercialization of DMFC. This article introduces the principle of catalytic electro-oxidation of methanol. The research progress of DMFC anode catalysts at home and abroad is reviewed from three aspects: Pt-based catalysts, non-Pt-based catalysts, and catalyst supports. Besides, four methods to improve the performance and reduce the cost of the catalyst are introduced, namely selecting appropriate crystal face, adding co-catalyst, preparation of catalyst with special morphology, and selecting the appropriate support. The principle that the catalyst improves catalytic activity and anti-CO toxicity through these three aspects is described. The catalytic activity of methanol on the Pt(100) crystal surface is good, but the anti-CO toxicity is weak. The Pt-M alloy catalyst prepared based on the dual function theory and electronic modulation theory, has high resistance to CO toxicity and methanol catalytic activity. The preparation of non-Pt-based catalysts provides research direction for cost reduction. Choosing a suitable catalyst support has also become an important solution to the problems of easy poisoning, low activity and high cost by taking advantages of the interaction between the support and the catalyst.

Key words: electrochemistry, fuel cell, anode catalyst, catalyst support, catalyst activity, anti-CO toxicity