Surface Decoration of Platinum Catalysts by ZrO2–x Nanoclusters for Durable Fuel Cell Applications

Ramaswamy, Nagappan; Shi, Zixiao; Zulevi, Barr; McCool, Geoff; Mellott, Nathan P.; Kongkanand, Anusorn; Kumaraguru, Swami; Ostraat, Michele L.; Muller, David A.; Kariuki, Nancy N.; Myers, Deborah J.; Kropf, A. Jeremy

doi:10.1021/acscatal.3c05297

Title: Surface Decoration of Platinum Catalysts by ZrO_2–x Nanoclusters for Durable Fuel Cell Applications

Journal Article · 08 March 2024 · ACS Catalysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.3c05297 · OSTI ID:2497719

^[1]; Shi, Zixiao ^[2]; Zulevi, Barr ^[3]; McCool, Geoff ^[4]; Mellott, Nathan P. ^[1]; Kongkanand, Anusorn ^[1]; Kumaraguru, Swami ^[1]; Ostraat, Michele L. ^[4];

^[2]; Kariuki, Nancy N. ^[5];

^[5];

^[5]

General Motors LLC, Pontiac, MI (United States)
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Pajarito Powder, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Electric Hydrogen, Natick, MA (United States)
Pajarito Powder, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Improving the activity and durability of carbon-supported platinum catalysts for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic electrolytes is crucial to reducing the high overpotentials and power loss over time in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). We found that platinum nanoparticle catalyst deposited on an engineered carbon support in the presence of zirconium enabled higher ORR activity and 25% better retention in electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), thereby improving durability. The use of zirconium precursor in the carbon synthesis process led to the formation of atomically dispersed Zr and ZrO₂ nanoparticles on the support. Upon Pt deposition and subsequent heat treatment, the ZrO₂ particles preferentially rearranged on and around the platinum nanoparticles in a chemically reduced form as zirconium suboxide (ZrO_2-x) surface-decorated nanoclusters, which mitigated Pt nanoparticle coarsening. Finally, analysis of the here-to-fore unknown catalyst structure as well as its performance and durability in a PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is discussed.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; EE0008821

OSTI ID:: 2497719

Journal Information:: ACS Catalysis, Journal Name: ACS Catalysis Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 14; ISSN 2155-5435

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Surface Decoration of Platinum Catalysts by ZrO2–x Nanoclusters for Durable Fuel Cell Applications

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Title: Surface Decoration of Platinum Catalysts by ZrO_2–x Nanoclusters for Durable Fuel Cell Applications