In-Situ Monitoring of Particle Growth at PEMFC Cathode under Accelerated Cycling Conditions

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters

OSTI ID:1044767

J, Billinge S; Redmond, E L; Setzler, B P; Juhas, P; Fullera, T F

An in-situ method to measure changes in catalyst particle size at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is demonstrated. Synchrotron X-rays, 58 keV, were used to measure the pair distribution function on an operating fuel cell and observe the growth of catalyst particles under accelerated degradation conditions. The stability of Pt/C and PtCo/C with different initial particle sizes was monitored over 3000 potential cycles. The increase in particle size was fit to a linear trend as a function of cycles. The most stable electrocatalyst was found to be the alloyed PtCo with the larger initial particle size.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1044767
• Report Number(s): BNL-98048-2012-JA; R&D Project: PO-011; KC0202010; TRN: US201214%%815
• Journal Information: Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, Vol. 15, Issue 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CATALYSTS
CATHODES
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTROCATALYSTS
FUEL CELLS
MONITORING
PARTICLE SIZE
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
STABILITY
SYNCHROTRONS
pair distribution function
catalyst particles
platinum nanoparticle formation
PDF method