Ruthenium/Carbon (Ru/C, Premetek) as Electrocatalysts for Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell, 0.5 g/bottle, CEFCERuC
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Ruthenium on Carbon (Ru/C) is a specialized catalyst used primarily for its performance in alkaline environments and its ability to handle "dirty" fuels. While Platinum (Pt/C) is more active in acidic conditions, Ru/C is emerging as a top-tier candidate for alkaline systems because it is significantly cheaper and, in some cases, more active than platinum.
In fuel cells, Ru/C is predominantly an anode material, though it is usually alloyed with platinum to create the standard Pt-Ru/C used in methanol fuel cells. (1) Alkaline Performance (HOR): Recent research has shown that in Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AEMFCs), Ru/C can exhibit higher mass activity for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction (HOR) than Pt/C. It provides a more favorable hydrogen binding energy in alkaline media, making it a viable lower-cost alternative to platinum. (2) CO Tolerance & Bifunctional Mechanism: Like its alloyed counterpart, pure Ru/C has a natural ability to "clean" its own surface. It attracts water molecules to form hydroxyl (–OH) groups at low voltages, which then oxidize carbon monoxide (CO) into CO2. This prevents the catalyst from being "poisoned" by impurities in reformed hydrogen. (3) Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells: Ru/C is highly effective at facilitating the initial steps of alcohol oxidation. However, for complete oxidation, it is almost always paired with Pt (as Pt-Ru) to ensure the final conversion of intermediates to CO2.
In water electrolysis, Ru/C is a high-performance cathode material, particularly in alkaline systems. (1) Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER): In alkaline electrolytes, Ru/C is a "benchmark" material. It often demonstrates lower overpotentials (higher efficiency) than Pt/C for producing hydrogen gas. (2) Cost Efficiency: Because Ruthenium is much cheaper than Platinum or Iridium, using Ru/C at the cathode of an alkaline electrolyzer significantly reduces the capital cost of the system. (3) Avoidance at the Anode: Pure Ru/C is not suitable for the anode (OER) of a PEM electrolyzer. In acidic, high-voltage conditions, the carbon support would corrode, and the metallic Ruthenium would dissolve or over-oxidize into volatile RuO4. For the anode, RuO2 (ruthenium oxide) on a ceramic support is used instead.
| Part Number |
CEFCERuC20 |
CEFCERuC40 |
CEFCERuCKB40 |
| Iridium/Carbon Content |
20 wt% Ru, 80 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
40 wt% Ru, 60 wt% carbon black (Vulcan XC-72) |
40 wt% Ru, 60 wt% carbon black (Ketjen Black) |
| Metal Surface Area |
~150 m2/g |
~120 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
| Catalyst BET Surface Area: |
~200 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
~480 m2/g |
| Metal Crystallite Size |
2-4 nm |
3-5 mm |
2-4 nm |
| Catalyst granule size D(100) |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
| Impurities |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
| Package Size | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle |
Notes: Please try to store the Ru/C powder in a dry place.
References:
- R. Y. Shao, et al. Is Pt/C More Electrocatalytic than Ru/C for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Electrolytes?, ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4, 5, 4284–4289.
- J. Ohyama, et al. High performance of Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon for anode electrocatalyst of alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell, J. Power Source, 2013, 225, 311-315.