Preparing of Carbon-Supported Ir-V Nanoparticles as Anode Catalyst by a Pulse-Microwave Assisted Chemical Reduction Process

Abstract

The non-Platinum Ir-V/C as the anode catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) were synthesized by a pulsed microwave-assisted chemical reduction process. The microstructure and morphology of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical catalytic activity was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry techniques (CV). The results show that pH value, water content in precursor solution, and heat-treatment process have significant influence on particle size and distribution of Ir-V/C nanoparticles. CV and HRTEM indicated that the Ir-V/C nanoparticles possessed the smallest mean particle size (2.25nm) and the most uniform distribution among all the synthesized catalysts when the pH value is 12 and with no water containing in the precursor solution. The optimized parameter of microwave reaction was on for 12 s and off for 180 s, and this process was repeated 6 times at a microwave power of 2 kW. Membrane electrode assemblies(MEA) were fabricated, and the maximum power density reached 654 mW/cm2 when the current density was 1200mA/cm2.