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Highly Active Carbon Supported PtCu Electrocatalysts for PEMFCs by in situ Supercritical Deposition Coupled with Electrochemical Dealloying
Author(s) -
Barim S. B.,
Bozbag S. E.,
Deljoo B.,
Aindow M.,
Erkey C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201900087
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , supercritical fluid , nanoparticle , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , materials science , catalysis , aerogel , deposition (geology) , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , engineering , paleontology , sediment , biology
Carbon aerogel and Vulcan supported PtCu electrocatalysts were prepared using the simultaneous and sequential in situ supercritical deposition (SCD) method in supercritical CO 2 followed by thermal annealing and electrochemical dealloying. Before dealloying, annealed electrocatalysts prepared by simultaneous SCD had a more uniform PtCu composition in PtCu nanoparticles whereas electrocatalysts prepared by sequential SCD led to PtCu nanoparticles with Cu enrichment on the surface. Upon dealloying, PtCu/CA electrocatalyst prepared by simultaneous SCD had an enhanced ESA of 159.4 m 2 g −1 due to the synergistic effects of PtCu nanoparticle size and PtCu composition in nanoparticles. All dealloyed electrocatalysts had higher mass activities and PtCu/Vulcan electrocatalyst prepared by simultaneous SCD had the highest mass activity of 0.178 A mg Pt −1 which was more than twice of the mass activity of commercial Pt/C. PtCu/Vulcan electrocatalyst prepared by sequential SCD showed a specific activity of 0.511 mA cm −2 which was 5 times higher than the specific activity of commercial Pt/C.