1. Enhanced durability of a Pt/C electrocatalyst derived from Nafion-stabilised colloidal platinum nanoparticles
- Author
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Curnick, Oliver J., Mendes, Paula M., and Pollet, Bruno G.
- Subjects
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ELECTROCATALYSIS , *PLATINUM catalysts , *POLYTEF , *COLLOIDS , *NANOPARTICLES , *THIN films , *PROTON exchange membrane fuel cells , *ELECTROCHEMICAL analysis - Abstract
Abstract: A Pt/C electrocatalyst was prepared from colloidal Pt nanoparticles stabilised by Nafion. This electrocatalyst was found to exhibit negligible degradation under a potential cycling regime conducted on a model thin-film catalyst layer in a 3-electrode cell set-up, in which an E-Tek Pt/C commercial catalyst showed a 23% loss of specific electrochemical surface area (SECSA). The enhanced durability of the Nafion-derived is thought to arise from the protection of Pt particles against dissolution and sintering by the surrounding Nafion layer. The use of the ionomer phase as a protective agent in the catalyst layer presents a novel strategy for the production of more durable Pt/C catalysts for the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), which currently presents a significant challenge for the commercialisation of this technology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2010
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