Ruthenium as a CO-tolerant hydrogen oxidation catalyst for solid acid fuel cells

Abstract

Carbon supported Ru nanoparticles were implemented in composite anodes of fuel-generating hydrogen pumps and electricity-generating fuel cells based on the inorganic proton conductor CsH₂PO₄. In cells operating at 250 °C, Ru catalysts are more tolerant to CO than Pt at cell currents greater than 500 mA cm⁻² and are stable in a fuel stream containing 10% CO for over 160 hours. Hydrogen-air fuel cells fabricated with Ru-based anodes performed comparably to those with Pt-based anodes in both pure hydrogen and in a hydrogen-rich simulated reformate containing 10% CO.