Electrode material containing carbon nanotubes and its kinetic characteristics of oxygen electroreduction

Abstract

In this article, we report on the study of the electrochemical characteristics of the electrode material of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a functional additive in the oxygen reduction reaction. The data of appraisal by the methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), differential thermal analysis, cyclic and direct voltammetry on a stationary and rotating disk electrode are given. The results showed that the material has a higher electrode activity in the presence of oxygen-modified carbon nanotubes, a higher half-wave potential of oxygen electroreduction (610 and 500 mV in the presence and absence of CNTs, respectively), showed a threefold higher density of the kinetic current of oxygen reduction, has a 2.5-fold higher density of exchange current in the oxygen reaction. This can be explained by the effect of oxygen-modified CNTs on the content of surface oxide (PtO); in the presence of CNTs, the PtO content is lower.