Over the past few decades, direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have been intensively developed as clean and high-efficiency energy conversion devices. However, their dependence on expensive Pt-based catalysts for both the anode and the cathode make them unsuitable for large-scale commercialisation. The essential solution to addressing this shortfall is the development of low-Pt and non-Pt catalysts. Regarding this issue, considerable advances have been made with low-Pt alloys and core-shell-like catalysts, as well as non-platinum Pd-Me, Ru-Se and heat-treated MeN x C y -based catalysts. This perspective reviews potential pathways for increasing the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of these catalysts. Fundamental understanding of the composition-activity and structure-activity relationships, innovative synthesis, and promising developmental directions are highlighted. Regarding durability, the main degradation mechanism of these catalysts and the corresponding mitigating strategies are presented.

Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Molen, S.

Pd-Au/C and Pd-Ag/C were found to have a unique characteristic of evolving high-quality hydrogen dramatically and steadily from the catalyzed decomposition of liquid formic acid at convenient temperature, and further this was improved by the addition of CeO(2)(H(2)O)(x).

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