PtCo Alloy Stability in PEMFCs under Automotive Cyclic Conditions

摘要

The present work examines the stability of a Pt-Co/C catalyst by subjecting it to voltage cycling windows and accelerated stress tests (ASTs), which represent a range of cycling profiles that a fuel cell may experience under automotive conditions. The results indicate that depending on the voltage window selected, performance degradation is accelerated or minimized due to nano-structural changes within the Pt-Co catalysts particles. A Pt skin surrounding a Pt-Co core is observed after testing, causing a significant reduction of their specific activity without significant loss in Pt or particle size growth.