Controlling Pt loading and carbon matrix thickness for a high performance Pt-nanowire catalyst layer in PEMFCs

Kaihua Su, Sheng Sui*, Xianyong Yao, Zhaoxu Wei, Junliang Zhang, Shangfeng Du

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pt-nanowire (Pt-NW) catalyst layers were prepared by in-situ growing Pt nanowires onto carbon matrix coated on electrolyte membrane surface and used as PEMFC cathodes. The performances of the catalyst layer with various catalyst loadings and carbon matrix thicknesses were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the morphology and thickness of the Pt-NW catalyst layers, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to investigate the Pt distribution along the layers. The polarization curve, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were performed in fuel cells to check the practical electrochemical activity of the Pt-NW catalyst layers. The results showed that the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and the cell performance exhibited a volcano-type curve with different Pt loadings, while the carbon matrix thickness had an influence on the Pt-NW gradient distribution, the mass diffusion, and the charge transfer in the electrodes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3397-3403
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume39
Issue number7
Early online date4 Jan 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Feb 2014

Keywords

  • Carbon matrix
  • Catalyst layer
  • Catalyst loading
  • Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
  • Pt nanowire

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Fuel Technology
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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