Enhanced stability for oxygen reduction reaction of supported platinum-based catalyst with Fe-N doped activated carbon as carbon support

Abstract

Modification and doping of carbon support are the main ways to improve the performance of the platinum-based catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. FeN-BP.Iron and nitrogen(FeN) co-doped activated carbon (Black Pearl 2000, BP) as a support, was used as the support of platinum-based catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The activity and stability of the catalysts were tested by electrochemical techniques, and the structure of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface area and pore size distribution test, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that Pt/FeN-BP and commercial Pt/C catalyst have comparable initial ORR activity with onset potential 0.94 V. After accelerated degradation test, the lost of onset potential for Pt/FeN-BP catalyst and commercial Pt/C catalyst are about 10 mV and 30 mV, as well as the lost of half-wave potential are about 5 mV and 60 mV.Pt/FeN-BP catalyst shows obvious improved stability.The high surface area and the moderate pore size distribution of FeN-BP, the small size and well dispersion of Pt nanoparticles on carbon after accelerated degradation test, as well as the interaction between carbon support and Pt nanoparticles may the key reasons for Pt/FeN-BP with improved stability.

Keywords

• oxygen reduction reaction
• platinum-based catalyst
• fen co-doped activated carbon
• acti-vity
• stability
• electrochemistry