Composite Nanometric Platinum and Platinum-Alloy Supported Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction in PEM Fuel Cells

摘要

The development of low-cost catalysts with high activity for oxygen reduction for fuel-cell applications remains one of the main goals of the current research in this field. One way to reduce Pt loading is to run the PEM or PCM FC at temperatures above 100oC. At these temperatures, especially with no air humidification, the membrane and the ionomer in the catalyst layer may dry out with resulting severe reduction in cell power. Another potential problem at elevated temperatures may be the burning of the carbon-to-catalyst contact. In order to avoid both problems it is suggested to bind the Pt catalyst to a hydrophilic nanosize ceramic powder such as silica. We report here on the synthesis and characterization of nanosize silica-supported Pt and Pt-alloy catalysts for oxygen reduction in proton-conducting-membrane FCs.