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Single Step Plasma Deposition of Platinum‐Fluorocarbon Nanocomposite Films as Electrocatalysts of Interest for Micro Fuel Cells Technology
Author(s) -
Milella Antonella,
Palumbo Fabio,
Dilonardo Elena,
Barucca Gianni,
Cosma Pinalysa,
Fracassi Francesco
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201400039
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , fluorocarbon , platinum , nanoclusters , chemical engineering , hydrogen , deposition (geology) , catalysis , electrochemistry , thin film , metal , atomic layer deposition , nanotechnology , composite material , electrode , metallurgy , chemistry , organic chemistry , paleontology , sediment , engineering , biology
In this paper, we present a one step plasma based approach for the deposition of Pt‐fluorocarbon nanocomposite films as electrocatalysts in hydrogen‐based micro fuel cells. Results show that the chemical and morphological structure of the film can be tuned by controlling the power delivered to the plasma, and the gas feed composition. Platinum is included in the film in metallic form and its content can be continuously varied from a few atomic percent to 86%. The metal is embedded in the film as crystalline nanoclusters of size below 10 nm, uniformly distributed across the sample. Film catalytic activity, in terms of hydrogen oxidation reaction, has been tested by cyclovoltammetry and it increases with the Pt loading, with a maximum specific electrochemical surface area of 94 cm 2 · mg −1 , for film deposited on flat glassy carbon.