title: Synthesis of Pd₃Co₁@Pt/C core-shell catalysts for methanol-tolerant cathodes of direct methanol fuel cells.
abstract: A composite Pd-based electrocatalyst consisting of a surface layer of Pt (5 wt.%) supported on a core Pd3Co1 alloy (95 wt.%) and dispersed as nanoparticles on a carbon black support (50 wt.% metal content) was prepared by using a sulphite-complex route. The structure, composition, morphology, and surface properties of the catalyst were investigated by XRD, XRF, TEM, XPS and low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LE-ISS). The catalyst showed an enrichment of Pt on the surface and a smaller content of Co in the outermost layers. These characteristics allow a decrease the Pt content in direct methanol fuel cell cathode electrodes (from 1 to 0.06 mg cm(-2)) without significant decay in performance, due also to a better tolerance to methanol permeated through the polymer electrolyte membrane.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Tecnologie Avanzate per l'Energia "Nicola Giordano", CNR, Via Salita S. Lucia sopra Contesse 5, 98126, Messina, Italy, Fax: (+39) 090-624247.
authors.forename: Antonino S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aricò
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Urso
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sebastián
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baglio
keywords: catalysis; fuel cells; methanol tolerance; oxygen reduction reactions; palladium