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Title: Engineered Catalyst Support with Improved Durability at Higher Weight Percentage of Platinum
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a suitable electrochemical power source for heavy duty vehicle (HDV) applications due to their high efficiency and durability. The cathode of the fuel cell uses a higher geometric loading of platinum (∼0.2 to 0.4 mgPt/cm2) for the electrocatalysis of the kinetically sluggish Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) which requires higher weight percent loading of the metal (∼50%) on the carbon support to decrease the catalyst layer thickness and hence, the reactant transport losses. The conventionally used supports for platinum catalyst, such as the KetjenBlackTMtype high surface area carbon (HSC) features limited mesopore area for the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles leading to increased aggregation and poor durability. Here, we show a new class of carbon materials known as the Engineered Catalyst Support (ECS) developed by Pajarito Powder with higher mesopore fraction for the dispersion of higher weight percentage of Pt nanoparticles. ECS materials can disperse up to 50% Pt by weight of the catalyst thereby enabling lower catalyst layer thickness with higher performance retained after durability test. A comprehensive set of physico-chemical and electrochemical studies in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are reported to understand the performance and durability of Pt/ECS catalysts.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1719875
PAR ID:
10549354
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
IOP Publishing
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of The Electrochemical Society
Volume:
170
Issue:
11
ISSN:
0013-4651
Page Range / eLocation ID:
114503
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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