To improve the durability of fuel cell catalysts, also the support material is becoming more important. Oxidation resistance is one point of concern. Alternatives to pure carbon blacks were evaluated for the oxygen reduction, such as carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide derived carbons, hollow spherical carbons, nitrogen modified carbons, or titanium-based materials.
Frédéric Hasché, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, and colleagues synthesized a mesoporous nitrogen doped carbon supported platinum nanoparticle fuel cell electrocatalyst (Pt/meso-BMP) based on an ionic liquid as nitrogen/carbon precursor as a new material class.
The structural and electrochemical characterization of this new material class shows a high electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and the suitability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The new catalyst shows comparable activities like the benchmark commercial fuel cell Pt catalyst. A significantly increased Pt electrochemical active surface area was established compared to the benchmark catalyst.
Further studies are necessary to evaluate and optimize this class of support material which shows promising opportunities for enhanced durability electrocatalysts for fuel cells.
- Mesoporous Nitrogen Doped Carbon Supported Platinum PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalyst Made From Ionic Liquids,
Frédéric Hasché, Tim-Patrick Fellinger, Mehtap Oezaslan, Jens Peter Paraknowitsch, Markus Antonietti, Peter Strasser,
ChemCatChem 2012.
DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201100408
