Pt-CeO(2) Coating of Carbon Nanotubes Grown on Anode Gas Diffusion Layer of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Abstract
The growing of carbon nanotubes on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) was investigated using electron microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy. The 30 nm thick Pt doped CeO(2) layers were deposited by (rf) magnetron sputtering using a CeO(2)-Pt target on a carbon diffusion layer overgrown by carbon nanotubes.
The anode prepared in such a way was tested in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Hydrogen/air fuel cell activity measurements normalized to the amount of used Pt revealed high specific power (W mg(-1) Pt).
The high activity of this anode with CNT-grown is explained by high specific area of the catalyst, high conductivity of CNT-GDL junction and high activity of platinum present in cationic state Pt(2,4+). Very high specific power and low cost together with physical vapor deposition of catalyst makes this anode preparation promising for micro fabrication of fuel cells to power mobile systems.