Fuel Cells Catalyst for Start-up and Shutdown Conditions: Electrochemical, XPS, and TEM Evaluation of Sputter-Deposited Ru, Ir, and Ti on Pt-Nano-Structured Thin Film (NSTF) Support

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Electrocatalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-012-0092-3· OSTI ID:1059326

Atanasoski, Radoslav ^[1]; Atanasoska, Liliana ^[1]; Cullen, David A ^[2]; Vernstrom, George ^[1]; More, Karren Leslie ^[2]; Haugen, Gregory ^[1]

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1. 3M Industrial Mineral Products
2. ORNL

Minute amounts of Ru, Ir and Ti (2 and 10 g/cm2) sputter-deposited over 3M Pt-coated nano-structured thin film (NSTF) substrate were evaluated as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) environment. The purpose of the study was to explore the suitability of these elements for modifying both the anode and the cathode catalysts in order to lower the overpotential for the oxidation of water during transient conditions. By keeping the electrode potential as close as possible to the thermodynamic potential for OER, other components in the fuel cell, such as platinum, the gas diffusion layer and the bipolar plates, will be less prone to degradation. While Ru and Ir were chosen due to their high OER activity in aqueous environment, Ti was also included due to its ability to stabilize the OER catalysts. The 3M Pt-NSTF was selected as a stable, carbon-free substrate. The surface chemistry and the morphology of OER catalysts on Pt-NSTF were examined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The OER catalytic activity of Ru and Ir in PEMs compares well with their behavior in aqueous environment. It was found that Ru is more active than Ir, that Ir is considerably more stable, while the mass activity of both is higher in comparison with similar OER catalyst.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1059326
• Journal Information: Electrocatalysis, Vol. 3, Issue 3-4; ISSN 1868--2529
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

PEMFC
TEM
OER