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U.S. Department of Energy
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Stabilizing platinum in phosphoric acid fuel cells. First quarterly report for 1981, December 1980-March 1981

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6505751

The cathode of the phosphoric acid fuel cell uses a high-surface-area platinum catalyst supported on a carbon substrate. During operation, the small platinum crystallites sinter, causing loss in cell performance. The objective of this project is to develop a support that will stabilize platinum in the high-surface-area condition by retarding or preventing the sintering process. The 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 project's first quarter experimental results confirm the formation of etch pits in each of the three supports chosen for investigation: Vulcan XC-72R, Vulcan XC-72 that has been graphitized at 2500/sup 0/C, and Shawinigan Acetylene Black.

Research Organization:
Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-80ET17088
OSTI ID:
6505751
Report Number(s):
DOE/NASA/0208-1; NASA-CR-165311
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English