Investigating Catalyst-Electrolyte Interface By Microelectrode, Infrared Reflection Adsorption Spectroscopy and Neutron Reflectometry

Abstract

Understanding of the catalyst-ionomer interfacial behavior is critically important for fuel cell research. In fact, alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFCs) have shown limited performance compared to proton exchange membrane fuel cells due to relatively poor hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics [1]. Previous work has shown that cationic adsorption at the surface of the catalyst was closely related to the HOR activity [2, 3]. Here, we present the results of a study of the benzyltrimethyl ammonium electrolyte-Pt interface in hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). More specifically, we will discuss the adsorption of the cationic group that may inhibit the HOR activity of Pt electrocatalysts. Microelectrode, Infrared Reflection Adsorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS) and Neutron Reflectometry are complementary tools to investigate the catalyst-ionomer interface. Acknowledgement US department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Program (Program Manager: Nancy Garland) supports this research through Fuel Cell Incubator Project. We also wish to acknowledge Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source, the NIST Center for Neutron Research and the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center.