Preparation of buckypaper supported Pt catalyst for PEMFC using a supercritical fluid method

Abstract

Carbon nanotube/nanofiber papers (i.e., buckypapers) supported Pt catalysts were synthesized using a supercritical fluid deposition method for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. The process involves impregnating buckypapers with plantinum precursor PtMe2COD (dimethyl (cyclooctadiene) platinum(II)) in supercritical CO2 fluid and thermally reducing PtMe2COD in N2 at 200C. Highly dispersed fine platinum (Pt) particles were obtained on the buckypaper support resulting in a high electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of 100 m2/g. With an ultralow Pt loading of 25 g/cm2 in Pt/buckypaper cathode catalyst layer, cell performance reached as high as 400 mW/cm2 at 0.65 V and 830 mW/cm2 at peak. © 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3594097] All rights reserved.