Carbon Aerogels -Supported Pt with Applications in Fuel-Cells

摘要

Highly dispersed platinum (Pt)-based nanoparticles still remain the most practical catalysts in fuel cells technology [1]. These Pt nanoparticles are normally supported on carbon particles in order to increase the active Pt surface and improve the catalyst utilization [2]. The researches in field are oriented to improve the support materials with nanometer Pt aiming at low densities, high surface area, continuous porosity and high catalytic activity, lower poisoning [3-5]. The main focus of this paper is the development of carbon aerogel-supported Pt as better alternative catalyst to Pt/C. The carbon aerogel-supported Pt catalysts were prepared by a conventional borohydride reduction method. The electrochemical characteristics and the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction of the carbon aerogel-supported Pt based catalysts were evaluated and compared with Pt/C. In addition EDAX measurements were done to evaluate the final content of metal catalyst related to the carbon content. The results conclude that carbon aerogels are promising low Pt loading support keeping the catalyst activity at high level.