Performance of dimethyl ether fuel cells using a Pt-Ru catalyst

Phenomena are presented whereby the performance of a dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDFC) at 80°C is much lower when a Pt‐Ru catalyst is used on the anode than when a Pt catalyst is used, in contrast to the higher performance achieved using a Pt‐Ru catalyst over a Pt catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The DDFC performance achieved using a Pt‐Ru catalyst increases with temperature and exceeds that using a Pt catalyst at temperatures over 100 °C. After high‐temperature operation, the performance of DDFC using a Pt‐Ru catalyst at 80 °C is improved. By supplying sufficient steam before operation, the performance of DDFC using a Pt‐Ru catalyst at 80 °C is also found to improve. Before and during operation, more steam is needed for stable operation of the DDFC using a Pt‐Ru catalyst at 80 °C than using a Pt catalyst. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(3): 19–25, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20072