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Title: 3D Analysis of Fuel Cell Electrocatalyst Degradation on Alternate Carbon Supports

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Understanding the mechanisms associated with Pt/C electrocatalyst degradation in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathodes is critical for the future development of higher-performing materials; however, there is a lack of information regarding Pt coarsening under PEMFC operating conditions within the cathode catalyst layer. We report a direct and quantitative 3D study of Pt dispersions on carbon supports (high surface area carbon (HSAC), Vulcan XC-72, and graphitized carbon) with varied surface areas, graphitic character, and Pt loadings ranging from 5 to 40 wt %. This is accomplished both before and after catalyst-cycling accelerated stress tests (ASTs) through observations of the cathode catalyst layer of membrane electrode assemblies. Electron tomography results show Pt nanoparticle agglomeration occurs predominantly at junctions and edges of aggregated graphitized carbon particles, leading to poor Pt dispersion in the as-prepared catalysts and increased coalescence during ASTs. Tomographic reconstructions of Pt/HSAC show much better initial Pt dispersions, less agglomeration, and less coarsening during ASTs in the cathode. However, a large loss of the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is still observed and is attributed to accelerated Pt dissolution and nanoparticle coalescence. Moreover, a strong correlation between Pt particle/agglomerate size and measured ECSA is established and is proposed as a more useful metric than average crystallite size in predicting degradation behavior across different catalyst systems.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396; AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1414157
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1414700
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-27245; TRN: US1800678
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 9, Issue 35; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 58 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (10)

Recent Advances in Catalyst Accelerated Stress Tests for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells journal January 2018
Carbon Corrosion in PEM Fuel Cells and the Development of Accelerated Stress Tests journal January 2018
Four-dimensional joint visualization of electrode degradation and liquid water distribution inside operating polymer electrolyte fuel cells journal February 2019
Effects of Porous Carbon Morphology, Agglomerate Structure and Relative Humidity on Local Oxygen Transport Resistance journal September 2019
Mitigation of PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Degradation with Porous Carbon Supports journal January 2019
In Situ and Operando Characterization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells journal August 2019
Impact of Carbon Support Corrosion on Performance Losses in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells journal January 2019
Real-time imaging of activation and degradation of carbon supported octahedral Pt–Ni alloy fuel cell catalysts at the nanoscale using in situ electrochemical liquid cell STEM journal January 2019
PtCo Cathode Catalyst Morphological and Compositional Changes after PEM Fuel Cell Accelerated Stress Testing journal January 2018
Theoretical research on the oxidation mechanism of doped carbon based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction journal January 2019