Integrated Platinum/Carbon Nanotube-based Electrocatalyst for High Efficiency Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

An integrated Pt/CNT-based electrode has been developed by an efficient fabrication method for high efficiency proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This fabrication method consists of in situ growth of CNTs onto carbon paper and direct sputter-deposition of Pt catalysts onto the CNT support. A high PEMFC performance has been achieved by optimizing the structure of the integrated Pt/CNT catalysts. A series of in situ electrochemical tests demonstrates that the Pt/CNT-based electrode can give rise to a considerable improvement in both electrochemical activity and stability under fuel cell working conditions, when compared with two commercial Pt/VXC72R-based electrodes. In view of previous studies mostly performed in simulated PEMFC environments, results in this study have substantially validated the overall effectiveness of CNTs as a promising alternative catalyst support material to replace carbon black for practical PEMFC applications.