CNF-supported platinum electrocatalysts synthesized using plasma-assisted sputtering in pulse conditions for the application in a high-temperature PEM fuel cell

Abstract

Nanostructured platinum catalysts for a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell based on polybenzimidazole (PBI) doped by H3PO4 were synthesized by magnetron-ion sputtering of platinum on carbon nano-fibers (CNF) in an impulse mode. The resulting catalysts were studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. These catalysts with platinum particles size from 4 to 6 nm uniformly distributed over the CNF surface exhibit high efficiency. The electrodes based on the synthesized electrocatalysts were tested in a liquid electrolyte and as a component of PBI-based fuel cell. The fuel cell had power density ca. 300 mW/cm2. Degradation tests showed that carbon carrier oxidation mainly determined the catalyst stability and stability of CNF was higher in comparison with Vulcan XC-72