Platinum-ruthenium alloy on graphitized carbon

Application

The platinum-ruthenium alloy on graphitized carbon serves as an efficient electrocatalyst, primarily designed for use in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). This specific configuration, consisting of a 30% platinum-ruthenium composition supported on graphitized carbon, capitalizes on the combined properties of platinum and ruthenium to enhance the performance of fuel cell technologies. By alloying platinum with ruthenium, notable improvements in hardness and electrical resistivity are achieved, although the optimum alloy composition is constrained to around 15% ruthenium for workability. The economic benefits of using ruthenium, which include its lower cost and specific gravity compared to other platinum alloys, make it an attractive choice for applications requiring high catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the platinum-ruthenium alloy's ability to perform in extreme conditions, such as a melting point of 1800°C while maintaining an electrical conductivity approximately 4% that of copper, underscores its suitability for rigorous biochemical research.