Gold/Carbon (Au/C, Premetek) as Electrocatalysts for Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell, 0.5 g/bottle, CEFCEAuC
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Gold on Carbon (Au/C) is a specialized electrocatalyst that trades the universal high activity of platinum for extreme selectivity and stability in alkaline environments. While it is rarely the first choice for a standard hydrogen fuel cell, it is the undisputed champion for CO2 electrolysis and a powerful component in alkaline alcohol fuel cells.
The most impactful application for Au/C today is the Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR). (1) Selectivity for CO: Gold is one of the most selective catalysts for converting CO2 into Carbon Monoxide (CO), which is a key building block for synthetic fuels (syngas). (2) Suppressing Hydrogen: In water-based electrolysis, a major problem is that the catalyst often produces hydrogen (H2) instead of the desired carbon product. Au/C has a high "overpotential" for hydrogen evolution, meaning it naturally suppresses H2 production in favor of CO. (3) Interfacial pH Tuning: Research shows that Au surfaces are highly sensitive to local cation concentrations (like K+), which can be tuned to further boost the efficiency of CO2 conversion.
In alkaline media, the chemistry of gold changes significantly, making it more active than it is in acidic PEM systems. (1) Oxygen Reduction (ORR): While pure Au/C is generally less active than Pt/C for oxygen reduction, it is much more stable in alkaline solutions. It typically follows a 2-electron pathway (producing H2O2), but modern "single-atom" Au catalysts or Au-alloys can trigger the more efficient 4-electron pathway to produce water. (2) Alcohol & Polyol Oxidation: Au/C is an exceptional anode catalyst for Direct Glycerol or Direct Glucose Fuel Cells. It can achieve higher current densities for glycerol oxidation than platinum in alkaline conditions, though it often requires a slightly higher "onset" voltage to start the reaction. (3) Formate Oxidation: Au/C is frequently alloyed with platinum (Pt-Au/C) to oxidize formate. The gold helps facilitate the rupture of the C-H bond and keeps the platinum surface clean from poisoning.
| Part Number |
CEFCEAuC20 |
CEFCEAuCKB20 |
CEFCEAuC40 |
CEFCEAuCKB40 |
| Gold/Carbon Content |
20 wt% Au, 80 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
20 wt% Au, 80 wt% carbon black (Ketjen Black) |
40 wt% Au, 60 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
40 wt% Au, 60 wt% carbon black (Ketjen Black) |
| Metal Surface Area |
~10 m2/g |
~40 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
~6 m2/g |
| Catalyst BET Surface Area: |
~200 m2/g |
~640 m2/g |
~480 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
| Metal Crystallite Size |
~25 nm |
4-7 mm |
2-4 nm |
~25 nm |
| Catalyst granule size D(100) |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
75 µm |
| Impurities |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
| Package Size | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle | 1.0 g/bottle |
Notes: Please try to store the Au/C powder in a dry place.
References:
- R. Shi, et al. Efficient wettability-controlled electroreduction of CO2 to CO at Au/C interfaces, Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 3028.
- S. Yongprapat, et al. Au/C catalyst prepared by polyvinyl alcohol protection method for direct alcohol alkaline exchange membrane fuel cell application, J. Applied Electrochem., 2012, 42, 483–490.