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We investigated the crystalline phase and electronic structure of perovskite-type La1-xSrxMnO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) (LSMx) catalysts synthesized via the citric sol-gel route, for H2O2 reduction. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, XANES, TR-XANES, and TPO and, after calcination, consisted of cubic perovskite for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 and hexagonal perovskite for x = 1.0. Mn species in the precalcined catalysts were oxidized to Mn(3+) for x = 0.0 to 0.6 and to Mn(2+) for x = 0.8 and 1.0. After calcination, Mn species were present in a mixed oxidation state of Mn(3+)/Mn(4+), while Sr(2+) and La(3+) were not altered. TR-XANES and TPO showed that Mn species were oxidized at 210-220 °C and formed active perovskites LSM0.4 and LSM0.0 at 580 °C and 640 °C. This shows that Sr doping can reduce the oxidation temperature of LSMx with 0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. However, the concentration of Mn(4+) in LSMx is increased which is useful for enhancing their catalytic activity and stability. When tested in an alkaline electrolyte, LSM0.6 containing the optimum Mn(4+)/Mn(3+) ratio promoted the formation of hydroxyl via the oxygen intercalation reaction and exhibited low polarization resistance and the highest catalytic activity for H2O2 reduction.

A direct-methanol fuel cell containing three parts: microchannels, electrodes, and a proton exchange membrane (PEM), was investigated. Nafion resin (NR) and polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (PS) were used as PEMs. Preparation of PEMs, including compositing with other polymers and their solubility, was performed and their proton conductivity was measured by a four point probe. The results showed that the 5 % Nafion resin has lower conductivity than the 5 % PS solution. The micro-fuel cell contained two acrylic channels, PEM, and two platinum catalyst electrodes on a silicon wafer. The assembled micro-fuel cells used 2 M methanol at the flow rate of 1.5 mL min−1 in the anode channel and 5 × 10−3 M KMnO4 at the flow rate of 1.5 mL min−1 in the cathode channel. The micro-fuel cell with the electrode distance of 300 μm provided the power density of 59.16 μW cm−2 and the current density of 125.60 μA cm−2 at 0.47 V.

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