Enhancing CO Tolerance of Platinum-Ruthenium with Polyoxometalate Based on a Triple-Functional Mechanism

We developed an approach to improve CO tolerance of Pt-based anode electrocatalysts in acid environment based on a triple-functional mechanism. The proof-of-concept study was performed by using PtRu as a model alloy catalyst and polyoxometalate as a surface promoter. Higher CO-tolerance of polyoxometalate-promoted PtRu over original PtRu was demonstrated through comparative voltammetric and chronoamperometric studies of the electrooxidation of bulk CO, reformate gas, formic acid, and methanol on these electrodes. This approach is encouraging for developing promising CO-tolerant anode electrocatalysts for low-temperature fuel cells operated with reformate gas or organic liquid fuels.