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The efficient use of renewable energy sources requires development of new electrocatalytic materials for electrochemical energy storage systems, particularly fuel cells. To increase durability of high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell (HT-PEMFC), Pt/carbon black based catalysts should be replaced by more durable ones, for example Pt/carbon nanofibers (CNF). Here, we report for the first time the quantitative ascorbic acid assisted deposition of Pt onto electrospun polyacrylonitrile-based CNF composite materials. The effect of their subsequent post-treatment at various temperatures (250 and 500 °C) and media (vacuum or argon-hydrogen mixture) on the Pt/C catalyst morphology is investigated. All obtained samples are thoroughly studied by high resolution electron microscopy, and Pt electrochemically active specific surface area was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different polyheteroarylenes, such as m-polybenzimidazole, polyphenylene oxide, polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) and poly(N-phenylene-benzimidazole) were electrospun to obtain self-supporting polymer nanofiber mats. The mats after heat treatment, which contains stabilization in air at 250-350 °C and pyrolysis at 900-1000 °C under vacuum, convert into carbon nanofiber paper, a material which is suitable for Pt nanoparticle deposition. The possibility of usage of the obtained carbonized nanocomposites as entire gas diffusion electrodes for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]