Graphene-Carbon Nanotube Hybrids as Robust Catalyst Supports in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
File(s)J. Electrochem. Soc.-2016-Pham-F255-63.pdf (1.52 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Pham, KC
McPhail, DS
Mattevi, C
Wee, ATS
Chua, DHC
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Catalyst degradation is one major challenge preventing the worldwide commercialization of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. In this study, we investigate the development of a novel hierarchical carbonaceous support for the platinum catalysts, called graphene-carbon nanotube hybrids (GCNT), and its degradation behavior during an accelerated degradation test. The carbon support is fabricated by growing graphene directly onto carbon nanotubes to form a unique all-carbon nanostructure possessing both an ultra-high density of exposed graphitic edges of graphene and a porous structure of carbon nanotubes. The GCNT-supported platinum catalyst exhibits a higher intrinsic catalytic activity than a carbon black-supported platinum catalyst, and much higher than a CNT-supported platinum catalyst. The enhanced catalytic activity of the GCNT-supported platinum catalyst is explained by the high graphitic edge density which promotes the catalytic reactions on platinum catalyst. The GCNT-supported platinum catalyst also exhibits a superior electrochemical stability over that of the carbon black-supported platinum catalyst, explained by the high crystallinity of the GCNT support. The superior stability is expressed by a lower loss in polarization performance, a smaller increase in charge transfer resistance, a lower loss in the platinum electrochemical surface area, a lower rate of carbon corrosion, and a more stable catalyst microstructure.
Date Issued
2016-01-07
Date Acceptance
2015-12-21
Citation
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2016, 163 (3), pp.F255-F263
ISSN
0013-4651
Publisher
Electrochemical Society
Start Page
F255
End Page
F263
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume
163
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2016. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/),
which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any
way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0891603jes]
All rights reserved.
Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/),
which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any
way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: oa@electrochem.org. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0891603jes]
All rights reserved.
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Electrochemistry
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Materials Science
POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE
ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION
DEGRADATION
DURABILITY
ELECTROCATALYSTS
DEPOSITION
OXYGEN
SPECTROSCOPY
DISSOLUTION
MECHANISMS
Publication Status
Published