Rotating Disk Electrode Study of Carbon Supported Pt-Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Microwave-Assisted Method

摘要

Carbon supported platinum catalysts are widely used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. In this study, the microwave-assisted synthesis method was used to analyze the effect of the Pt-nanoparticle size and content (mass%) on the electrochemical activity of oxygen electroreduction reaction. The Pt-nanoparticles were deposited using the microwave-assisted method onto the commercial Vulcan XC72, Vulcan XC72 activated with HNO_3, or onto molybdenum carbide derived carbon - C(Mo_2C)750°C. Variation of the pH of the reaction media influenced the Pt-nanoparticle size and Pt content in the catalysts prepared. The X-ray diffraction and low temperature nitrogen sorption methods were used to characterize the catalyst materials. The materials were electrochemically characterized using the rotating disk electrode technique in 0.1 MHClO_4 solution. The catalytic activity of the catalyst depends strongly on the size and size distribution of the Pt-nanoparticles deposited onto the porous carbon support.