Comparison of the ORR Activity of Carbon Supported PtCo/C and PtSnCo/C Electrocatalysts for PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

Besides producing clean energy via fuel cells, the costs and activations of catalysts have a great importance. In order to reduce cathode activation losses due to comparably sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction, more active catalysts than Pt should be used. Mostly, noble metals are alloyed with second or third metal as cathode catalysts in order to obtain a synergistic effect. The objective of this study is to improve and enhance the electrocatalytic activities and to lower costs of Pt-based cathode catalysts. Microwave assisted polyol synthesis is used to synthesize bimetallic or ternary catalysts in a very short time with particle size smaller than 10 nm. PtCo/C and PtSnCo/C electrocatalysts is shown ORR activities higher than Pt/C catalyst. Effect of the addition of Co and/or Co and Sn catalyst to Pt/C over ORR kinetic is investigated. Characterization of catalysts is carried out by electrochemical, spectroscopic and microscopic methods.