Nanostructured Platinum and Carbon Supported Pt-Ni Catalyst for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

• Main Authors: Hong Phuong, Vu Thi, Man, Tran Van, Phung, Le My Loan
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1938-5862; 1938-6737
• DOI: 10.1149/06403.0171ecst

The Pt-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles supported on nano carbon (Pt x Ni y /C) have been synthesized by the polyol reduction under ultrasonic irradiation. The morphology, structure and specific area of synthesized materials were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption (BET). The electrocatalytic activity for alcohol oxidation of the synthesized Pt x Ni y /C materials and the commercial 10wt.% Pt loaded on activated carbon catalyst (Aldrich Sigma, Pt/C_com) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of Pt x Ni y /C was investigated by CV and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The major size of synthesized metallic particles was around 2 nm. The Pt 2 Ni 1 /C exhibited excellent catalytic properties for alcohol oxidation compared to other catalysts on the same support. The CNTs were found to be more effective than carbon Vulcan for use as a support for alcohol oxidation catalysts. The linear sweep voltammograms showed that Pt x Ni y /C, which has the least coverage of oxygenated species, was the best catalyst for ORR with its onset potential of 0.624 V. From the slope of Koutecky-Levich plot for ORR using Pt x Ni y /VC materials as catalysts it was found that the overall electron transfer number ranged from 3 to 4, leading to the suggestion of H 2 O 2 formation as an intermediate of the ORR.