Enhancement of Platinum Mass Activity at Polymer-Wrapped Carbon Nanotube-Based Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are one of the most promising power sources for cars and houses due to their high-energy conversion efficiency [1-7].

    Cost reduction and improved durability are the two major targets for accelerating the commercialization of PEFCs. To achieve these goals, the development of a novel method to fabricate platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts with a high mass activity, deposited on durable conductive support materials, is necessary.

    In this study, we report a facile approach to grow homogeneously dispersed Pt nanoparticles (Pt) with a narrow diameter distribution in a highly controllable fashion on polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs)[8]. A PEFC cell employing a composite with the smallest Pt nanoparticle size (2.3 nm diameter) exhibited a ~8 times higher mass activity compared to a cell containing Pt with a 3.7 nm diameter. This is the first example of the diameter control of Pt on polymer-wrapped carbon supporting materials. using a minimal amount of Pt.

  References

[1] M. R. Berber, T. Fujigaya, N. Nakashima, M. R. Berber, T. Fujigaya, N. Nakashima, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 19053.

[2] M. R. Berber, T. Fujigaya, N. Nakashima, ChemCatChem, 2014, 6, 567.

[3] M. R. Berber, T. Fujigaya, K. Sasaki, N. Nakashima, Scientific Reports, 2013, 3, art. no. 1764.

[4] T. Fujigaya, M. Okamoto, N. Nakashima, ChemCatChem, 2013, 5, 1701.

[5] T. Fujigaya, N. Nakashima, Adv. Mater., 2013, 25, 1666-1681.

[6] T. Fujigaya, C.R. Kim, K. Matsumoto, N. Nakashima, Poly. J. 2013, 45, 326-330.

[7] T. Fujigaya, T. Uchinoumi, and K. Kaneko, N. Nakashima, Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 6843.

[8] I. H. Hafez, M. R. Berber, T. Fujigaya, N. Nakashima, Scientific Reports, 2014, 4, art no.6295.