Abstract
A Pt/C electrocatalyst was prepared from colloidal Pt nanoparticles stabilised by Nafion. This electrocatalyst was found to exhibit negligible degradation under a potential cycling regime conducted on a model thin-film catalyst layer in a 3-electrode cell set-up, in which an E-Tek Pt/C commercial catalyst showed a 23% loss of specific electrochemical surface area (SECSA). The enhanced durability of the Nafion-derived is thought to arise from the protection of Pt particles against dissolution and sintering by the surrounding Nafion layer. The use of the ionomer phase as a protective agent in the catalyst layer presents a novel strategy for the production of more durable Pt/C catalysts for the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), which currently presents a significant challenge for the commercialisation of this technology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1017-1020 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Electrochemistry Communications |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 24 May 2010 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
We would like to thank Dr. Frank Marken of the University of Bath for assistance with the electrochemical methodology and the EPSRC for funding. This research was also supported through the Birmingham Science City initiative funded by Advantage West Midlands. Nafion® is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Keywords
- Durability
- Electrocatalyst
- Fuel cell
- Nafion
- PEMFC
- Platinum
- Pt/C
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrochemistry