A High-Throughput Study of PtNiZr Catalysts for Application in PEM Fuel Cells
The effects of adding Zr to PtNi oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst alloys were examined in a study aimed at probing the possibility of creating catalysts with enhanced resistance to corrosion in a PEM fuel cell environment. Samples consisting of pure Pt or PtNiZr alloys with a range of compositions (not exceeding 11 at.% Zr) were fabricated using co-sputter deposition. A high-throughput fabrication approach was used wherein 18 distinct thin film catalyst alloy samples with varying compositions were deposited onto a large-area substrate with individual Au current collector structures. A multi-channel pseudo-potentiostat allowed for the simultaneous quantitative study of catalytic activity for all 18 electrodes in a single test bath, a first for the study of ORR electrocatalysts. A properly stirred oxygenated 1 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} electrolyte solution was used to provide each electrode with a steady-state flow of reactants during electrochemical evaluation. The onset potentials, absolute current density values, and Tafel analysis data obtained using this technique were compared with literature reports. The analyses showed that most PtNiZr alloys tested offered improvements over pure Pt, however those surfaces with a high mole fraction (>4 at.%) of Zr exhibited reduced activity that was roughly inversely correlated to the amount of Zr present. Film composition, morphology, and crystallographic properties were examined using X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. These data were then correlated with electrochemical data to elucidate the relationships between composition, structure, and relative performance for this ternary system.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 953605
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-REPRINT-2009-278; ELCAAV; TRN: US1000851
- Journal Information:
- Electrochim. Acta 53:3680,2008, Vol. 53, Issue 10; ISSN 0013-4686
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
2D and 3D Characterization of PtNi Nanowire Electrode Composition and Structure
From First Principles Design to Realization of Bimetallic Catalysts for Ultrahigh Selectivity - Final Project Report
Related Subjects
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ALLOYS
CATALYSTS
CORROSION
CURRENT DENSITY
CURRENTS
DATA
DEPOSITION
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT
EVALUATION
FABRICATION
FILMS
FUEL CELLS
MORPHOLOGY
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
POTENTIALS
RANGE
REDUCTION
SOLUTIONS
SPECTROSCOPY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACES
SYNCHROTRONS
THIN FILMS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
Other
OTHER