Design of Supported PtCo Electrocatalysts for Pemfcs. (14th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stassi, Alessandro; Gatto, Irene; Saccà, Ada; Patti, Assunta; Monforte, Giuseppe; Baglio, Vincenzo; Aricò, Antonino S.
• Is Part Of: ECS transactions. Volume 69:Number 17(2015)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 272
• Publication Date: 2015-09-14
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journal; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1149/06917.0263ecst
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1938-5862

Abstract

Abstract : Pt-alloy electrocatalysts have been investigated for operation in both hydrogen and methanol-fed polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells with the aim of evaluating their performance. Nanosized PtCo catalysts with particle size of about 3 nm were prepared by using a sulphite complex route. To achieve a high degree of alloying a carbothermal reduction was used. This caused the occurrence of a primitive cubic ordered structure. The surface properties were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LE-ISS, 3He+ at 1kV). The formation of a Pt skin layer on the surface of the alloy electro-catalyst was studied. The structural and surface characteristics of the samples as well as the type of catalyst support appear to strongly influence the PtCo catalyst performance.