Carbon Supported Ruthenium As Anode Catalyst For Alkaline Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

Electrochemical borohydride oxidation on nanodispersed ruthenium supported on high surface area carbon (Ru/C) is investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, CO-stripping, rotating disk electrode experiments and chronoamperometry as well as direct borohydride fuel cell tests in a mixed electrolyte approach. All experimental results of Ru/C are compared to a commercially available Pt/C catalyst. Ru/C shows high Coulombic efficiency with a complete eight electron transfer at low anodic potentials. The electrochemical active potential window is -0.05-0.30 V vs RHE with higher activity compared to Pt/C in diffusion limited regions. In situ fuel cell tests show superior behavior in current density areas below 20 mA cm(-2).