PEFC Electrocatalysts Supported on Nb-SnO2 for MEAs with High Activity and Durability: Part II. Application of Bimetallic Pt-Alloy Catalysts. Issue 14 (23rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matsumoto, S.; Nagamine, M.; Noda, Z.; Matsuda, J.; Lyth, S. M.; Hayashi, A.; Sasaki, K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 165:Issue 14(2018)
• Page Start: F1164
• Page End: F1175
• Publication Date: 2018-10-23
• Subjects: Electrocatalysis -- Fuel Cells - PEM -- Solid-State Ionics -- durability -- Polymer Electrolyte fuel cells -- Pt-alloy; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0321814jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Bimetallic Pt-alloys supported on niobium-doped tin oxide (Nb-SnO2 ) with a vapor-grown carbon fiber (VGCF) backbone are presented as electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). These can simultaneously achieve both high catalytic activity and high cycling durability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This was confirmed both in half-cell and full-cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) configuration, using 60, 000 start-stop potential cycles and 400, 000 load potential cycles. In this study, we focus on alloying Pt with Co or Ni, and the best performance is achieved for Pt3 Co/Nb-SnO2 /VGCF electrocatalysts. The catalyst particles are selectively decorated on the Nb-SnO2, resulting in improved resistance to carbon corrosion. Pt3 Co alloying was verified by FE-SEM and high-resolution STEM-EDS. High initial mass activity of 274 A g −1 at 0.9 VRHE and 1840 A g −1 at 0.85 VRHE was achieved, with enhanced durability compared to conventional Pt/C electrocatalysts.