The dissolution dilemma for low Pt loading polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell catalysts

DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/abc767

Authors: Daniel J. S. Sandbeck (Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) , Niklas Mørch Secher (Technical University of Denmark) , Masanori Inaba (University of Copenhagen; Toyota Central R&D Labs, Inc) , Jonathan Quinson (University of Copenhagen) , Jakob Ejler Sørensen (Technical University of Denmark) , Jakob Kibsgaard (Technical University of Denmark) , Alessandro Zana (University of Bern) , Francesco Bizzotto (University of Bern) , Florian D. Speck (Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) , Michael T. Y. Paul (Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH) , Alexandra Dworzak (University of Oldenburg; Technical University of Braunschweig) , Carsten Dosche (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg; Technical University of Braunschweig) , Mehtap Oezaslan (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg; Technical University of Braunschweig) , Ib Chorkendorff (Technical University of Denmark) , Matthias Arenz (University of Copenhagen; University of Bern) , Serhiy Cherevko (Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH)
Co-authored by industrial partner: Yes

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of The Electrochemical Society , VOL 167

State: Published (Approved)
Published: December 2020
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 12746

Abstract: Cost and lifetime currently hinder widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Reduced electrode Pt loadings lower costs; however, the impact of metal loading (on the support) and its relation to degradation (lifetime) remain unclear. The limited research on these parameters stems from synthetic difficulties and lack of in situ analytics. This study addresses these challenges by synthesizing 2D and 3D Pt/C model catalyst systems via two precise routes and systematically varying the loading. Pt dissolution was monitored using on-line inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (on-line-ICP-MS), while X-ray spectroscopy techniques were applied to establish the oxidation states of Pt in correlation with metal loading. Dissolution trends emerge which can be explained by three particle proximity dependent mechanisms: (1) shifts in the Nernst dissolution potential, (2) redeposition, and (3) alteration of Pt oxidation states. These results identify engineering limitations, which should be considered by researchers in fuel cell development and related fields.

Diamond Keywords: Fuel Cells

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Energy


Instruments: B18-Core EXAFS

Added On: 06/01/2021 10:12

Documents:
Sandbeck_2020_J._Electrochem._Soc._167_164501.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Energy Storage Energy Physical Chemistry Catalysis Energy Materials Chemistry Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology Polymer Science

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)