Abstract: The PtRu-NdOx /C catalysts have been prepared by deposition-reduction method. EDX、XRD, and TEM measurements have been used to characterize the composition, particle size, and crystallinity of the catalysts. The catalyst materials consist of Pt-Ru alloy particles and varying amounts of Nd oxide. The average particle size and the lattice parameter of the catalysts are about 2 nm and 0.3896 nm, respectively, which indicates that Nd oxide in PtRu-NdOx /C has no effects on the crystal structure of the Pt-Ru alloy particles. The electrocatalytic activities of the PtRu-NdOx /C catalysts and PtRu/C catalysts have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric measurements. Nd oxide can improve the degree of dispersion of the noble metals in the catalysts and as co-catalyst lead to an improvement of the catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation.

Key words: Direct methanol fuel cell, PtRu-NdOx /C catalyst, Deposition-reduction method, Electrochemical catalysis