Enhancement of high temperature PEMFC stability using catalysts based on Pt supported on SiC based materials

摘要

With the aim of overcome the carbon supports of high temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) electrodes, two novel non-carbonaceous support based on SiC have been assessed, SiC and SiCTiC. 40% wt. Pt was successfully deposited on them and they were physicochemical and electrochemically characterized. Both catalysts on SiC based materials showed a very high electrochemical stability in the half cell experiments in comparison with Pt on carbon support, showing a lower degradation rate of the electrochemical surface area (ECSA). Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) were prepared with the different catalysts and tested in a single cell (25 cm(2)) operated at 160 degrees C. The Pt/SiCTiC showed a good performance and the highest stability in the fuel cell tests carried under the same operation conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.