Thermal synthesis of Pt nanoparticles on carbon paper supports

Abstract

A thermal method of synthesis and fixation of Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) on carbon paper is proposed in this paper. Carbon paper was coated with H2PtCl6 by simple immersion in an ethanol solution containing the Pt precursor. Thereafter, H2PtCl6 was decomposed in inert atmosphere into Pt NPs by applying a temperature of 600 °C. Formed Pt NPs were able to oxidize the surrounding carbon fiber surface. This local thermal oxidation of carbon promoted the generation of nano-roughness and Pt NPs were embedded in the carbon fiber, thus favoring their fixation on carbon paper. Pt load can be easily controlled by the number of coating processes applied. The proposed method combines the advantage of achieving small size nanoparticles (5–10 nm) with enhanced fixation of Pt NPs when compared with electrochemical synthesis. The optimal number of coatings applied was three, which produced a complete coverage of carbon paper surface (with a Pt load of 0.18 mg cm−2).