Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Stabilization of Platinum Nanoparticle Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Using Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry, 19(42):7995 - 8001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/b912104h· OSTI ID:970367

A long-chain polyelectrolyte, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), has been employed to stabilize platinum nanoparticles for oxygen reduction in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Pt nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing H2PtCl6 with NaBH4 in the presence of PDDA and then deposited on carbon support (PDDA-Pt/C). Transmission electron microscope images showed that Pt nanoparticles of PDDA-Pt/C are uniformly dispersed on carbon support with a mean size of about 2.2 nm (2.1 nm for commercial Etek-Pt/C). PDDA-Pt/C exhibited a higher activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than Etek-Pt/C. The durability of PDDA-Pt/C was improved by a factor of 2 as compared with Etek-Pt/C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of PDDA-Pt/C revealed the interaction between Pt nanoparticles and PDDA, which increased Pt oxidation potential. PDDA-Nafion ionic crosslinking "entraps" Pt nanoparticles and prevents Pt nanoparticles from migrating/agglomerating on or detaching from carbon support. This provides a promising strategy to improve both the durability and activity of electrocatalysts for fuel cells.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
970367
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-67934; 30506
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry, 19(42):7995 - 8001, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry, 19(42):7995 - 8001 Journal Issue: 42 Vol. 19; ISSN JMACEP; ISSN 0959-9428
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English