Highly Durable Platinum Catalysts on Nano-SiC Supports with an Epitaxial Graphene Nanosheet Layer Grown from Coffee Grounds for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

Robust ceramic supports have attracted significant attention as alternatives to carbon supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, they suffer from lower electrocatalytic activities than carbon-based supports because of their electrical conductivity. Here, SiC nanopowders were modified with epitaxial graphene and evaluated as the support for Pt in PEMFCs. Coffee grounds are used as a carbon source to not only enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the graphene-modified SiC supports but also demonstrate the feasibility of exploiting and commercializing this widely available waste product. The Pt-decorated ceramic supports deliver the enhanced durability and performance under the accelerated electro′chemical conditions.