Recent progress in anode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cells

It was mainly reviewed that the recent research progress in anode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) in three categories: (1) Pt-based anode catalysts, (2) composite catalysts with conducting polymers as a carrier;(3) catalysts with nitrogen-containing-large-ring coordinate compounds. The effect of anode catalysts on cell performance was discussed by briefly describing the methanol carossover problem, its influence and possible solutions in DMFC. It is demonstrated that the composition of alloy, type of carrier, and large ring coordinate compounds are directly linked to activity and stability of anode catalysts. Significant researches were carried out in methanol oxidation in DMFC, the mechanism of methanol oxidation at surface of anode catalysts,but, no common agreement is reached so far. In addition, the synthesis of highly disperse anode catalysts by new methods becomes an important research direction. To improve DMFC performance by optimizing anode catalysts, it is desirably to minimize and ultimately eliminate the methanol crossover problems.