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U.S. Department of Energy
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Stabilizing platinum in phosphoric acid fuel cells. Second quarterly report, April-June 1981

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6328306

The objective of this project is to develop a carbon substrate for use in fabricating phosphoric acid fuel cell electrodes which will stabilize the platinum catalyst in a high-surface-area condition by retarding the sintering of small platinum crystallites. The experimental approach is to form etch pits in the carbon by oxidizing the carbon in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst, remove the metal oxide by an acid wash, and then deposit platinum in these pits. The experimental results from the first quarter of the project confirm the formation of etch pits. During the second quarter, both unmodified and catayticaly oxidized supports were impregnated with high-surface-area platinum (40 to 100 m/sup 2//g) and fabricated into flag-type test electrodes. The platinum sintering rates were determined for these electrodes under conditions simulating those encountered at the cathode of a phosphoric acid fuel cell (650 mV RHE, 100% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/, 190/sup 0/C). In general, the platinum sintering rates were lower for supports modified by catalytic oxidation.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (USA); Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-80ET17088
OSTI ID:
6328306
Report Number(s):
DOE/NASA/0208-2; NASA-CR-165377; ON: DE81027844
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English