Investigation of Carbon Nanofiber‐supported Electrocatalysts with Ultra‐low Platinum Loading for the Use in PEM Fuel Cells1. Issue 5 (27th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Podleschny, P.; Rost, U.; Muntean, R.; Marginean, G.; Heinzel, A.; Peinecke, V.; Radev, I.; Muhler, M.; Brodmann, M.
• Other Names: Cerri Isotta guestEditor.; Heinzel Angelika guestEditor.; Bele Petra guestEditor.; Bucheli Olivier guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Fuel cells. Volume 18:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 586
• Page End: 593
• Publication Date: 2018-09-27
• Subjects: Accelerated Stress Test -- Carbon Nanofibers -- Degradation -- Durability -- PEM Fuel Cell -- Pulsed Electrodeposition -- Ultra‐low Catalyst Loading; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; 621.312429
• DOI: 10.1002/fuce.201700220
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1615-6846

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aims to investigate gas diffusion electrodes with ultra‐low platinum loading and increased durability, prepared by pulsed electrodeposition process, applicable for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Testing was performed both, in situ in a PEMFC test bench while prepared GDEs were compared to anodes and cathodes with commercially available catalysts by Johnson Matthey (JM), as well as ex situ regarding electrochemical properties and catalyst layer structure. High and stable performance of developed electrodes was achieved, while the Pt catalyst loading of investigated anodes and cathodes was reduced to 10 µgPt cm −2 . The catalyst deposition was achieved via pulsed electrodeposition process from H2 PtCl6 ‐containing electrolyte on an oxygen plasma‐pretreated corrosion‐stable carbon nanofiber (CNF) support. In situ performance tests show a similar operation behavior of the compared anodes, while activation losses of investigated cathodes are high due to the limited amount of catalyst material. However, Pt/CNF_c cathodes show significantly higher power densities than cathodes prepared with JM catalyst. Membrane electrode assemblies containing developed Pt/CNF_a anodes with 10 µgPt cm −2 reached a power density of 0.525 W cm −2 at a cell potential of 0.65 V, which was similar to anodes with commercially available HiSPEC 2000 catalysts by JM. Accelerated stress tests (AST) revealed that Pt/CNF_a anodes preserve their performance, whereas the commercial catalyst degraded severely. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicated a high electrochemical active surface area of Pt/CNF_a anodes. Moreover, the electrode characteristics, analyzed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy after AST, showed marginal anode degradation.