Electrochemical energy conversion realized through Ag@Pt/rGO nano-catalyst enhancing activity of the ORR process in a PEMFC

Document Type : Article

Authors

Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, P.O. Box 1136594655, Iran.

Abstract

Core-Shell structures of Ag@Pt nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed upon reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support containing different Ag:Pt mass ratios synthesized through the ultrasonic treatment method. These applied to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The morphology of as-prepared catalysts characterized through High Resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analyses. The ORR activities and stabilities of catalysts studied through electrochemical measurements of Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and single cell tests, respectively. The results revealed, prepared Ag@Pt/rGO catalysts possessed a Core-Shell nanostructure and the one with the Ag:Pt mass ratio of 1:3 displayed the largest electrochemical surface area (of 77.6 m2 g-1) as well as; provided the highest stability compared with prepared electrodes containing other Ag:Pt ratios and the obtained commercial Pt/C material. The maximum power density for the MEA prepared with this electrocatalyst determined to be 55% higher than that of the commercial Pt/C evaluated through single cell techniques. Thus, the understudied material seemed to be a very promising cathode for utilizing in PEM fuel cells.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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