@article {Santasalo:April 2009:0032-1400:58,
author = "Santasalo, Annukka",
author = "Kallio, Tanja",
author = "Kontturi, Kyosti",
title = "Performance of Liquid Fuels in a Platinum-Ruthenium-Catalysed Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell",
journal = "Platinum Metals Review",
volume = "53",
year = "April 2009",
abstract = "Crossover and performance of different 1 M low molecular weight organic fuels with a platinum-ruthenium (60:40) catalyst in a unit fuel cell were studied at different temperatures. Large, negatively charged or complicated molecules were found to have the lowest crossover rates through the Nafion® 115 membrane, and methanol had the highest permeability at all temperatures. The smallest molecule, formic acid, dissociates in water, resulting in a less severe crossover problem. In a PtRu-catalysed fuel cell, compounds with only one carbon atom exhibit superior performance compared to molecules having a carbon chain; with methanol and formaldehyde producing power densities up to five times higher than those achieved with molecules having a longer carbon chain. However, it should be noted that PtRu does not catalyse the breaking of the C-C bond; therefore, larger molecules can only be oxidised to derivative products. However, larger organic molecules show a lower rate of crossover through the Nafion® membrane, which enables more concentrated solutions to be used to decrease the volume of the fuel. With the addition of a third metal to the PtRu-based catalyst, higher molecular weight molecules are good candidates for energy sources in a fuel cell.",
pages = "58-66(9)",
url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/matthey/pmr/2009/00000053/00000002/art00001"
doi = "doi:10.1595/147106709X416040"
}