Synthesis of Cermet Sr(Ti,Fe)O3-δ-PtRu by Combustion

Abstract

High specific surface area metallic, ceramic and cermet powders may beactive electrocatalyst materials, particularly for hydrocarbon oxidationin the anode compartment of a PEMFC, DMFC or SOFC. Several synthesistechniques are available for electrocatalyst preparation. Sol-gel andcoprecipitation are considered dependable methods but are time-consumingand complex. Combustion synthesis is a rapid and reliable route thatallows powders of metals, ceramics and cermets free of impurities, withnanoparticle scale and high specific surface area to be obtained. Inthis work, cermet material in the system SrTiFeO3-delta/ Pt-Ru wasprepared for electrochemical applications by combustion synthesis. Theperovskite (SrTiFeO(3-delta)support for the Pt/Ru particles may decreasethe Pt poisoning by CO. The Pt-Ru alloy particle size was around 15nm.The material has been tested as anode electrocatalyst in a protonicexchange membrane fuel cell; polarization curves have been obtained withpower output of 25 mW/cm(2).