Microspheres assembled by KMn8O16 nanorods and their catalytic oxygen reduction activity in direct methanol fuel cells

作者：Fang, Yuan; Yang, Xiaodong; Wang, Li; Liu, Yongning^*

来源：Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 267: 33-38.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.04.085

• KMn8O16
• Oxygen reduction reaction
• Methanol tolerance
• Direct methanol fuel cell

Microspheres assembled using cryptomelane-type KMn8O16 nanorods are synthesized via a facile template-free, single-step hydrothermal technique. The synthesized KMn8O16 generates nanorods 10 -20 nm in diameter and approximately 300-1000 nm long. The rods self-assemble to form microspheres of 2-6 mu m in diameters. The electron transfer number for KMn8O16 during the ORR is approximately 3.98 at 0.5 V vs. Hg/HgO, and the H2O2 percentage is 0.66%. Moreover, a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is built using KMn8O16 as cathodic catalyst, PtRu/C alloy as the anodic catalyst and a polymer fiber membrane (PFM) instead of a conventional polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). The peak power densities (43.3 mW cm(-2) and 153.9 mW cm(-2)) have been achieved at 25 degrees C and 70 degrees C, respectively. KMn8O16 shows good electrocatalytic activity and stability during oxygen reduction in alkaline solutions and demonstrates tolerance toward methanol poisoning.

• 出版日期2014-12-1
• 单位西安交通大学