Manufacturing and Stabilization of PtCo/C Cocatalysts for PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

High manufacturing costs of active layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a major challenge for this promising technology to penetrate the market. In this report a new, straightforward and easily scalable manufacturing process of platinum cobalt cocatalysts is described and demonstrated on a lab-scale. The stability issue of this kind of materials is counteracted by post-preparation treatments, which are also designed in order to be feasible on a big scale. All catalysts are characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry in acidic as well as alkaline electrolyte and rotating disk electrode experiments. The catalysts’ stability is estimated by accelerated stress tests.