Cathode catalyst layer using supported Pt catalyst on ordered mesoporous carbon for direct methanol fuel cell

The development of a cathode catalyst layer based on a supported Pt catalyst using an ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) for direct methanol fuel cell is reported. An OMC with a mesopore structure between hexagonally arranged carbon nanorods is prepared using a template method. Platinum nanoparticles a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of power sources 2008-06, Vol.180 (2), p.724-732
Main Authors: Kim, Hee-Tak, You, Dae Jong, Yoon, Hae-Kwon, Joo, Sang Hoon, Pak, Chanho, Chang, Hyuk, Song, In-Seob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agglomerate
Applied sciences
Carbon
Catalysts
Cathodes
Density
Direct methanol fuel cell
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cell catalyst
Fuel cells
Ionomers
Membrane electrode assembly
Methyl alcohol
Nanorods
Ordered mesoporous carbon
Platinum
Power density
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Summary:The development of a cathode catalyst layer based on a supported Pt catalyst using an ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) for direct methanol fuel cell is reported. An OMC with a mesopore structure between hexagonally arranged carbon nanorods is prepared using a template method. Platinum nanoparticles are supported on the OMC (Pt/OMC) with high metal loading of 60 wt.%. Compositional and morphological variations are made by varying the ionomer content and by compressing the catalyst layer to detect a parameter that determines the power performance. Increase in power density with decrease in the volume fraction of ionomer in the agglomerate comprising the Pt/OMC and the ionomer indicates that mass transport through the ionomer phase governs the kinetics of oxygen reduction. Impedance spectroscopic analysis suggests that a significant mass-transport limitation occurs at high ionomer content and in the compressed cathode. The power density of the optimum cathode layer, which employs a Pt/OMC catalyst with a Pt loading of 2 mg cm −2, is greater than that of a catalyst layer with 6 mg cm −2 Pt-black catalyst at a voltage higher than 0.4 V. This would lead to a significant reduction in the cost of the membrane electrode assembly.
ISSN:0378-7753
1873-2755
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.02.081