Matrix Material Study for in situ Grown Pt Nanowire Electrocatalyst Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

K. Su, X. Yao, S. Sui*, Z. Wei, J. Zhang, S. Du

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The cathode electrocatalyst layers were prepared by in situ growing Pt nanowires (Pt-NWs) in two kinds of matrixes with various Pt loadings for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Commercial carbon powder and 20 wt.% Pt/C electrocatalyst were used as the matrix material for the comparison. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarization curves tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were carried out to examine the effects of the matrix materials on the Pt-NW growing and the electrode performance. The optimum Pt-NW loadings of 0.30 mg cm-2 in the carbon matrix (CM) and 0.20 mg cm-2 for the Pt/C matrix (PM) were obtained. The results indicated that the Pt-NWs grown in the CM had a better crystalline, longer size length and better catalyst activity than those in the PM. The mechanism of the matrix affection is further discussed in this paper.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)449-455
Number of pages7
JournalFuel Cells
Volume15
Issue number3
Early online date20 Apr 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2015

Keywords

  • Carbon Powder
  • Electrocatalyst Layer
  • Matrix
  • Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
  • Pt Nanowire

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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