A facile synthesis of high activity cube-like Pt/carbon composites for fuel cell application

doi:10.1007/s11708-017-0492-4

Front. Energy

2017, Vol. 11

Issue (3) : 245-253 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-017-0492-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

A facile synthesis of high activity cube-like Pt/carbon composites for fuel cell application

Reza B. MOGHADDAM, Samaneh SHAHGALDI, Xianguo LI(

)

Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

Download: PDF(362 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

High activity catalyst with simple low-cost synthesis is essential for fuel cell commercialization. In this study, a facile procedure for the synthesis of cube-like Pt nanoparticle (Pt_Cube) composites with high surface area carbon supports is developed by mixing precursor of Pt with carbon supports in organic batches, hence, one pot synthesis. The Pt_Cube grow with Vulcan XC-72 or Ketjen black, respectively, and then treated for 5.5 h at 185ºC (i.e., Pt_Cube5.5/V and Pt_Cube5.5/K). The resulting particle sizes and shapes are similar; however, Pt_Cube5.5/K has a larger electrochemical active surface area (EASA) and a remarkably better formic acid (FA) oxidation performance. Optimization of the Pt_Cube/K composites leads to Pt_Cube10/K that has been treated for 10 h at 185ºC. With a larger EASA, Pt_Cube10/K is also more active in FA oxidation than the other Pt_Cube/K composites. Impedance spectroscopy analysis of the temperature treated and as-prepared (i.e., untreated) Pt_Cube/K composites indicates that Pt_Cube10/K is less resistive, and has the highest limiting capacitance among the Pt_Cube/K electrodes. Consistently, the voltammetric EASA is the largest for Pt_Cube10/K. Furthermore, Pt_Cube10/K is compared with two commercial Pt/C catalysts, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo (TKK), and Johnson Matthey (JM)Pt/C catalysts. The TKK Pt/C has a higher EASA than Pt_Cube10/K, as expected from their relative particles sizes (3–4 nm vs. 6–7 nm for Pt_Cube10/K), however, Pt_Cube10/K has a significantly better FA oxidation activity.

Keywords synthesis cube-like Pt Pt/C composite catalyst impedance

Corresponding Author(s): Xianguo LI

Just Accepted Date: 12 July 2017 Online First Date: 22 August 2017 Issue Date: 07 September 2017

Cite this article:

Reza B. MOGHADDAM,Samaneh SHAHGALDI,Xianguo LI. A facile synthesis of high activity cube-like Pt/carbon composites for fuel cell application[J]. Front. Energy, 2017, 11(3): 245-253.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-017-0492-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2017/V11/I3/245

Fig.1 Transmission electron microscopic images of pure Pt_Cube (A), Pt_Cube5.5/V(B, C), Pt_Cube5.5/K(D, E), Pt_Cube10/K(F, G), and Pt_Cube24/K (H) composites, and a TKK Pt/C (I)

Fig.2 Cyclic voltammograms of the Pt_Cube5.5/V and Pt_Cube5.5/K composites at 50 mV/s in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄

Fig.3 Voltammetric responses for the Pt_Cube/K composites at 50 mV/s in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄

Tab.1 Electrochemical active surface area (EASA) values for Pt_Cube/V and Pt_Cube/K composites based upon the H adsorption and desorption signals

Fig.4 Complex-plane impedance (Nyquist profiles) responses of the Pt_Cube/K composites at 0.15 V_SCE over 100 kHz to 0.1 Hz. Symbols are experimental and dashed lines are simulation results. Inset: series capacitance plots (the data for the Pt_Cube5.5/V is also included), and the equivalent circuit used to model the impedance data

Fig.5 Voltammograms (50 mV/s) for the Pt/C (TKK; 46.6%), JM (60%), and Pt_Cube10/K catalysts (Pt loading ~7.7×10⁻⁶ g/cm²) in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄

Tab.2 Numerical values for the high frequency RC semicircle and the mid frequency Warburg resistance of the Pt_Cube/K composites

Fig.6 Voltammograms (10 mV/s) for the Pt_Cube5.5/V, Pt_Cube5.5/K, Pt_Cube10/K, Pt_Cube24/K, JMPt/C (60%), and Pt/C (TKK; 46.6%) catalysts (Pt loading ~7.7×10⁻⁵ g/cm²) in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄ containing 0.5 mol/L formic acid. Raw data (a) and EASA normalized data (b)

Fig.7 EASA-normalized potentiostatic (E= 0.2 V_SCE) formic acid oxidation at PtCube/K and TKK Pt/C in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 containing 0.5 mol/L FA

1	LaMer V K, Dinegar R H. Theory, Production and mechanism of formation of monodispersed hydrosols. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1950, 72(11): 4847–4854 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01167a001
2	Pajonk G M, Rao A V, Pinto N, Ehrburger-Dolle F , Gil M B . Monolithic carbon aerogels for fuel cell electrodes. In: Delmon P A J R M J A M P G B, Poncelet G. eds. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis. Elsevier, 1998: 167–174
3	Wang C, Hou Y, Kim J , Sun S. A general strategy for synthesizing fept nanowires and nanorods. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2007, 46(33): 6333–6335 https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200702001
4	Wang C, Daimon H, Onodera T , Koda T, Sun S. A general approach to the size- and shape-controlled synthesis of platinum nanoparticles and their catalytic reduction of oxygen. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2008, 47(19): 3588–3591 https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200800073
5	Antolini E. Composite materials: an emerging class of fuel cell catalyst supports. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2010, 100(3–4): 413–426 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.08.025
6	Lee Y W, Han S B, Kim D Y, Park K W. Monodispersed platinum nanocubes for enhanced electrocatalytic properties in alcohol electrooxidation. Chemical Communications, 2011, 47(22): 6296–6298 https://doi.org/10.1039/c1cc10798d
7	Du L, Shao Y, Sun J , Yin G, Liu J, Wang Y . Advanced catalyst supports for PEM fuel cell cathodes. Nano Energy, 2016, 29: 314–322 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.03.016
8	Fu K, Wang Y, Mao L , Jin J, Yang S, Li G . Facile one-pot synthesis of graphene-porous carbon nanofibers hybrid support for Pt nanoparticles with high activity towards oxygen reduction. Electrochimica Acta, 2016, 215: 427–434 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2016.08.111
9	Li Q, Sun S. Recent advances in the organic solution phase synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their electrocatalysis for energy conversion reactions. Nano Energy, 2016, 29: 178–197 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.02.030
10	Zhang J. Recent advances in cathode electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells. Frontiers in Energy, 2011, 5(2): 137–148 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-011-0153-y
11	Job N, Pereira M F R, Lambert S, Cabiac A , Delahay G , Colomer J F , Marien J , Figueiredo J L , Pirard J P . Highly dispersed platinum catalysts prepared by impregnation of texture-tailored carbon xerogels. Journal of Catalysis, 2006, 240(2): 160–171 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.03.016
12	Antolini E. Carbon supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2009, 88(1–2): 1–24 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2008.09.030
13	Antolini E. Structural parameters of supported fuel cell catalysts: the effect of particle size, inter-particle distance and metal loading on catalytic activity and fuel cell performance. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2016, 181: 298–313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.08.007
14	Antolini E. Nitrogen-doped carbons by sustainable N- and C-containing natural resources as nonprecious catalysts and catalyst supports for low temperature fuel cells. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016, 58: 34–51 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.330
15	Cherstiouk O V , Simonov A N , Moseva N S , Cherepanova S V , Simonov P A , Zaikovskii V I , Savinova E R . Microstructure effects on the electrochemical corrosion of carbon materials and carbon-supported Pt catalysts. Electrochimica Acta, 2010, 55(28): 8453–8460 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.electacta.2010.07.047
16	Li D, Wang C, Tripkovic D , Sun S, Markovic N M, Stamenkovic V R. Surfactant removal for colloidal nanoparticles from solution synthesis: the effect on catalytic performance. ACS Catalysis, 2012, 2(7): 1358–1362 https://doi.org/10.1021/cs300219j
17	Wang X M, Wang M E, Zhou D D, Xia Y Y. Structural design and facile synthesis of a highly efficient catalyst for formic acid electrooxidation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2011, 13(30): 13594–13597 https://doi.org/ 10.1039/c1cp21680e
18	Antolini E, Gonzalez E R. Polymer supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts. Applied Catalysis A, General, 2009, 365(1): 1–19 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.apcata.2009.05.045
19	Moghaddam R B , Ali O Y , Javashi M , Warburton P L , Pickup P G . The effects of conducting polymers on formic acid oxidation at Pt nanoparticles. Electrochimica Acta, 2015, 162: 230–236 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.08.029
20	Ochal P, Gomez de la Fuente J L, Tsypkin M, Seland F , Sunde S , Muthuswamy N , Rønning M , Chen D, Garcia S, Alayoglu S , Eichhorn B . CO stripping as an electrochemical tool for characterization of Ru@Pt core-shell catalysts. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 2011, 655(2): 140–146 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2011.02.027
21	Guo K, Wang Y, Chen H , Ji J, Zhang S, Kong J , Liu B.An aptamer–SWNT biosensor for sensitive detection of protein via mediated signal transduction. Electrochemistry Communications, 2011, 13(7): 707–710 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2011.04.016
22	Alipour Moghadam Esfahani R , Vankova S K , Monteverde Videla A H A , Specchia S . Innovative carbon-free low content Pt catalyst supported on Mo-doped titanium suboxide (Ti3O5-Mo) for stable and durable oxygen reduction reaction. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2017, 201: 419–429 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.08.041
23	Su N, Hu X, Zhang J , Huang H , Cheng J , Yu J, Ge C. Plasma-induced synthesis of Pt nanoparticles supported on TiO2 nanotubes for enhanced methanol electro-oxidation. Applied Surface Science, 2017, 399: 403–410 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.12.095
24	Yuan Q, Duan D, Ma Y , Wei G, Zhang Z, Hao X , Liu S. Performance of nano-nickel core wrapped with Pt crystalline thin film for methanol electro-oxidation. Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 245: 886–891 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.07.039
25	Wang Y J, Fang B, Li H , Bi X T , Wang H. Progress in modified carbon support materials for Pt and Pt-alloy cathode catalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Progress in Materials Science, 2016, 82: 445–498 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2016.06.002
26	Shahgaldi S, Hamelin J. Improved carbon nanostructures as a novel catalyst support in the cathode side of PEMFC: a critical review. Carbon, 2015, 94: 705–728 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2015.07.055
27	Prabakar S J R , Kim Y, Jeong J, Jeong S , Lah M S , Pyo M. Graphite oxide as an efficient and robust support for Pt nanoparticles in electrocatalytic methanol oxidation. Electrochimica Acta, 2016, 188: 472–479 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.12.051
28	Luo M, Hong Y, Yao W , Huang C , Xu Q, Wu Q. Facile removal of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) adsorbates from Pt alloy nanoparticles. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2015, 3(6): 2770–2775 https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA05250A
29	Niu Z, Li Y. Removal and utilization of capping agents in nanocatalysis. Chemistry of Materials, 2014, 26(1): 72–83 https://doi.org/10.1021/cm4022479
30	Biegler T, Rand D A J, Woods R. Limiting oxygen coverage on platinized platinum; relevance to determination of real platinum area by hydrogen adsorptionOriginal. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry and Interfacial Electrochemistry, 1971, 29(2): 269–277 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0728(71)80089-X
31	Trasatti S, Petrii O A. Real surface area measurements in electrochemistry. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 1992, 327(1-2): 353–376 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0728(92)80162-W
32	Reid O R, Saleh F S, Easton E B. Determining electrochemically active surface area in PEM fuel cell electrodes with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and its application to catalyst durability. Electrochimica Acta, 2013, 114: 278–284 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.10.050
33	Wang W, Guo S, Lee I , Ahmed K , Zhong J , Favors Z , Zaera F , Ozkan M , Ozkan C S . Hydrous ruthenium oxide nanoparticles anchored to graphene and carbon nanotube hybrid foam for supercapacitors. Scientific Reports, 2014, 4(1): 4452 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep04452
34	Moghaddam R B , Pickup P G . An electrochemical impedance study of thin polycarbazole films. Electrochimica Acta, 2014, 130: 577–582 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.03.059
35	Wang Y J, Zhao N, Fang B , Li H, Bi X T, Wang H. Effect of different solvent ratio (ethylene glycol/water) on the preparation of Pt/C catalyst and its activity toward oxygen reduction reaction. RSC Advances, 2015, 5(70): 56570–56577 https://doi.org/ 10.1039/C5RA08068A
36	Rice C A, Bauskar A, Pickup P G . Recent advances in electrocatalysis of formic acid oxidation. In: M. Shao (Ed.) Electrocatalysis in Fuel Cells: A Non- and Low- Platinum Approach. London: Springer, 2013: 69–87
37	Rice C, Ha S, Masel R I , Waszczuk P , Wieckowski A , Barnard T . Direct formic acid fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources, 2002, 111(1): 83–89 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00271-9
38	Yu X, Pickup P G. Recent advances in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC). Journal of Power Sources, 2008, 182(1): 124–132 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.03.075
39	Brummer S B, Makrides A C. Adsorption and oxidation of formic acid on smooth platinum electrodes in perchloric acid solutions. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1964, 68(6): 1448–1459 https://doi.org/ 10.1021/j100788a030

[1]	Ru Shien TAN, Tuan Amran TUAN ABDULLAH, Anwar JOHARI, Khairuddin MD ISA. Catalytic steam reforming of tar for enhancing hydrogen production from biomass gasification: a review[J]. Front. Energy, 2020, 14(3): 545-569.
[2]	Soheil RASHIDI, Akshay CARINGULA, Andy NGUYEN, Ijeoma OBI, Chioma OBI, Wei WEI. Recent progress in MoS₂ for solar energy conversion applications[J]. Front. Energy, 2019, 13(2): 251-268.
[3]	Arunkumar JAYAKUMAR. A comprehensive assessment on the durability of gas diffusion electrode materials in PEM fuel cell stack[J]. Front. Energy, 2019, 13(2): 325-338.
[4]	S. Y. SHEN, Y. G. GUO, G. H. WEI, L. X. LUO, F. LI, J. L. ZHANG. A perspective on the promoting effect of Ir and Au on Pd toward the ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media[J]. Front. Energy, 2018, 12(4): 501-508.
[5]	Alireza AHMADIAN YAZDI, Jie XU. Nitrogen-doped graphene approach to enhance the performance of a membraneless enzymatic biofuel cell[J]. Front. Energy, 2018, 12(2): 233-238.
[6]	Nebojsa S. MARINKOVIC, Kotaro SASAKI, Radoslav R. ADZIC. Design of efficient Pt-based electrocatalysts through characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy[J]. Front. Energy, 2017, 11(3): 236-244.
[7]	Gang WU. Current challenge and perspective of PGM-free cathode catalysts for PEM fuel cells[J]. Front. Energy, 2017, 11(3): 286-298.
[8]	Changlin ZHANG, Xiaochen SHEN, Yanbo PAN, Zhenmeng PENG. A review of Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction[J]. Front. Energy, 2017, 11(3): 268-285.
[9]	Jun HUANG, Zhe LI, Jianbo ZHANG. Review of characterization and modeling of polymer electrolyte fuel cell catalyst layer: The blessing and curse of ionomer[J]. Front. Energy, 2017, 11(3): 334-364.
[10]	Tiejun WANG, Yuping LI, Longlong MA, Chuangzhi WU. Biomass to dimethyl ether by gasification/synthesis technology—an alternative biofuel production route[J]. Front Energ, 2011, 5(3): 330-339.
[11]	Zongde LIU, Miao LIU, Liping ZHAO. Technology for the preparation and application of cermet coatings and claddings in thermal power plants[J]. Front Energ, 2011, 5(3): 257-262.
[12]	Junliang ZHANG. Recent advances in cathode electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells[J]. Front Energ, 2011, 5(2): 137-148.
[13]	YAO Chunde, LIU Xibo, WANG Hongfu, LIU Xiaoping, CHENG Chuanhui, WANG Yinshan. Study on emissions reduction of DMCC engine with oxidation catalyst[J]. Front. Energy, 2007, 1(4): 441-445.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed