Pulsed electrochemical deposition of Pt NPs on polybenzimidazole-CNT hybrid electrode for hightemperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Journal
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Journal Volume
40
Journal Issue
41
Pages
14398-14404
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Abstract
Nitrogen-doped CNTs, directly grown on a carbon cloth (CNT/CC) hybrid with polybenzimidazole (PBI), are utilized as hybrid electrodes in higherature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). The use of a rotation holder for pulse electrodepositing Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on a CNT electrode is developed herein. The electrochemical surface area of the Pt NPs/PBI-CNTs is approximately 161 cm2 mg-1 and the grain size is around 8-9 nm. A comparative study of 0.09 mg cm-2 Pt NPs on a PBIeCNT (Pt/PBIeCNT) electrode and 0.8 mg cm-2 Pt NPs on PBIecarbon black (Pt/PBIeCB) for reducing oxygen at the cathode was carried out. In H2/O2 HT-PEMFC single cell tests, a low Pt-loaded (0.09 mg cm-2) Pt/PBIeCNT/CC electrode outperformed a high Pt-loaded (0.8 mg cm-2) Pt/PBIeCB/CC electrode with maximum power densities of 620 mW cm-2 and 468 mW cm-2, respectively, at 160 °C. The enhanced performance is attributed to the well-controlled grain size and Pt loading of Pt NPs on the PBI-CNT in the cathode, which provide the highly active catalyst and the good electrical conductivity carbon support.
SDGs
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article