A highly efficient carbon-supported Pt electrocatalyst prepared by γ-irradiation for cathodic oxygen reduction

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 1688 - 1697
• Main Authors: Park, Hyean-Yeol, Yang, Dae-Soo, Bhattacharjya, Dhrubajyoti, Song, Min Young, Yu, Jong-Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 22.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Homogeneous deposition; Hydrogen; Oxygen reduction reaction; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Pt electrocatalyst; γ-Ray irradiation; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Homogeneous deposition; γ-Ray irradiation; Oxygen reduction reaction; Pt electrocatalyst; Electrocatalysis; Hydrogen; Platinum; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.053

A simple, efficient and scalable approach is developed for synthesis of Vulcan XC-72(carbon)-supported Pt nanoparticles (NPs) that combines homogeneous deposition (HD) of Pt complex species through reaction with OH- ions generated by in situ hydrolysis of urea and subsequent reduction by reducing species generated from radiolysis of water by γ-rays. This method not only avoids addition of any commonly used reducing agent, but also offers more uniform homogeneous dispersion of Pt NPs with much smaller particle size. Thus, when used as a cathode catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the synthesized carbon-supported Pt NPs demonstrate excellent oxygen reduction electro–catalytic activity, higher Pt utilization efficiency, and considerably improved fuel cell polarization performance compared to those of Pt catalysts prepared with other synthesis strategies such as conventional NaBH4 reduction and HD-ethylene glycol method as well as commercial Pt catalyst. The combined HD-γ-irradiation strategy is found to be simple, reproducible and efficient with mild synthesis condition and in particular, holds great promises for large scale production of highly efficient Pt-based catalysts for fuel cells. Novel urea-assisted homogeneous deposition-irradiation method demonstrates smaller particle size and more uniform dispersion of supported Pt nanoparticles and thus produces more efficient Pt/C catalyst, which exhibits enhanced catalytic activity toward ORR and improved fuel cell performance in PEMFC compared with other synthesis methods. [Display omitted] •New homogeneous deposition -γ-irradiation strategy is used to prepare active Pt NPs.•Reducing species are generated from radiolysis of water by γ-rays.•HD-γ-irradiation strategy is very simple, reproducible and efficient for Pt NP synthesis.•Pt utilization efficiency and ORR polarization performance are greatly improved.•Hold great promises for large scale production of highly efficient Pt-based catalysts.