Deposition of Pt nanoparticles on different carbonaceous materials by using different preparation methods for PEMFC electrocatalysts

NATALIA VEIZAGA; JOSÉ L. FERNÁNDEZ; MARIANO BRUNO; OSVALDO SCELZA; SERGIO DE MIGUEL

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 37 p. 17910 - 17920

0360-3199

The objective of this study is to evaluate different methods to obtain Pt (20 wt%)/carbonelectrocatalysts, in order to identify the conditions that lead to electrocatalysts with the bestelectrochemical performance. This paper involves the study of different methods for thedeposition and reduction of H2PtCl6 on three carbon supports: Vulcan carbon, Multiwallcarbon nanotubes and mesoporous carbons. The deposition-reduction methods in liquidphase were carried out with HCOOH or NaBH4 as reducing agents. Besides, the conventionalimpregnation was carried out by deposition of H2PtCl6 on carbon followed by a reductionwith H2 at high temperature. The electrochemical performance of supported Pt catalystsprepared by reduction in liquid phase is strongly dependent on the metallic dispersion, theparticle size distribution and the nature of the carbonaceous material used as a support.Results show that the depositionereduction method using HCOOH 0.3 M at 50-60 C anda mesoporous carbon leads to the most efficient electrocatalyst.