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TiO2 on carbon was prepared by sol–gel method. Pd supported on TiO2–C comprising Pd and Ti in varying atomic ratios namely, 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 was prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction and Transmission electron microscopy techniques. The electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in aqueous 0.1 M KOH solution containing methanol was characterized by rotating disk electrode. Catalytic activity of Pd–TiO2(3:1)/C for ORR and methanol tolerance was found to be superior in relation to Pd/C. Keywords: Electro-catalyst, Methanol-tolerant catalyst, Alkaline medium, Pd–TiO2/C

During the anodic dead-end mode operation of fuel cells, the inert gases (nitrogen and water) present in the cathode side gas channel permeate to the anode side and accumulate in the anode gas channel. The inert gas accumulation in the anode decreases the fuel cell performance by impeding the access of hydrogen to the catalyst. The performance of fuel cell under potentiostatic dead-end mode operation is shown to have three distinct regions viz. time lag region, transient current region and a steady state current region. A current distribution measurement setup is used to capture the evolution of the current distribution as a function of time and space. Co- and counter-flow operations of dead-end mode confirm the propagation of inert gas from the dead-end of anode channel to the inlet of anode. Experiments with different oxidants, oxygen and air, under dead-end mode confirm that nitrogen which permeates from cathode to anode causes the performance drop of the fuel cell. For different starting current densities of 0.15 A cm-2, 0.3 A cm-2 and 0.6 A cm-2 the inert gas occupies 35%, 45% and 57%, respectively of anode channel volume at the end of 60 min of dead-end mode operation. � 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stabilized forms of heteropolyacids (HPAs), namely phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), phosphotungstic acid (PTA), and silicotungstic acid (STA), are incorporated into poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cross-linked with sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) to form mixed-matrix membranes for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Bridging SSA between PVA molecules not only strengthens the network but also facilitates proton conduction in HPAs. The mixed-matrix membranes are characterized for their mechanical stability, sorption capability, ion-exchange capacity, and wetting in conjunction with their proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and DMFC performance. Methanol-release kinetics is studied ex situ by volume-localized NMR spectroscopy (employing point-resolved spectroscopy'') with the results clearly demonstrating that the incorporation of certain inorganic fillers in PVA-SSA viz., STA and PTA, retards the methanol-release kinetics under osmotic drag compared to Nafion, although PVA-SSA itself exhibits a still lower methanol permeability. The methanol crossover rate for PVA-SSA-HPA-bridged-mixed-matrix membranes decreases dramatically with increasing current density rendering higher DMFC performance in relation to a DMFC using a pristine PVA-SSA membrane. A peak power density of 150 mW/cm(2) at a load current density of 500 mA/cm(2) is achieved for the DMFC using a PVA-SSA-STA-bridged-mixed-matrix-membrane electrolyte. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3465653] All rights reserved.