Novel Fuel Cell MEA Based on Pt-C Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering

Abstract

Based on the concept of single atom catalysis for the development of low-cost catalytic materials and supported metal nanostructures (most widely used type of heterogeneous catalyst in industrial processes) a novel Pt-C composite catalysts was developed for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) application. Nanostructured Pt-C thin films catalysts with thickness range 25-150 nm were deposited on carbon paper gas diffusion layer substrates covered with standard microporous layer (MPL) by magnetron sputtering method. Total Pt loading in the thin films varied in the range 5.5-60 µg/cm2 as determined by XPS. These thin film catalysts were examined for their activity at both sides of proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Thin film catalyst with total Pt loading of 19.9 µg/cm2 giving maximum power of 0.93 W/cm2 was checked during 450-h accelerated durability test. The average cell voltage decay of only 15.6 µV/h showed very high catalyst stability despite very low loading of noble metal.