Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of Pt/C catalysts via polyol method for PEMFC applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54939/1859-1043.j.mst.114.2026.135-141Keywords:
Pt/C catalyst; Polyol synthesis method; Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); Electrochemical characterization.Abstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising for clean energy. Here, Pt/C catalysts on Vulcan XC-72 were synthesized via a polyol method using ethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone. XRD confirmed face-centered cubic Pt with ~1.8 nm crystallites. BET analysis showed a mesoporous structure with a surface area of 91.97 m2/g. SEM–EDX revealed uniform Pt dispersion with 30.18 wt% loading. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated low solution resistance and moderate charge transfer resistance (~260 Ω), suggesting charge-transfer-controlled kinetics. Linear sweep voltammetry demonstrated good ORR activity, with a current density of -7.2 mA/cm2 at -0.8 V. The catalyst showed acceptable stability after 100 cycles. Overall, the synthesized Pt/C catalyst exhibited preliminary ORR activity in alkaline electrolyte, although additional electrochemical evaluation in acidic media together with long-term durability testing is required before practical PEMFC applicability can be confirmed.
References
[1]. S. Chu and A. Majumdar, “Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future”, Nature, Vol. 488, No. 7411, pp. 294–303, (2012).
[2]. D. E. Lazo, L. G. Dyer, R. D. Alorro and R. Browner, “Treatment of monazite by organic acids II: Rare earth dissolution and recovery”, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 179, pp. 94–99, (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.05.022.
[3]. S. Legg, “IPCC, 2021: Climate change 2021-the physical science basis”, Interaction, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 44–45, (2021).
[4]. Y. Wang, Y. Pang, H. Xu, A. Martinez and K. S. Chen, “PEM fuel cell and electrolysis cell technologies and hydrogen infrastructure development–a review”, Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 2288–2328, (2022).
[5]. R. O’Hayre, S.-W. Cha, W. Colella and F. B. Prinz, “Fuel Cell Fundamentals”, John Wiley & Sons, (2016).
[6]. M. Shao, Q. Chang, J.-P. Dodelet and R. Chenitz, “Recent advances in electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction”, Chemical Reviews, Vol. 116, No. 6, pp. 3594–3657, (2016).
[7]. M. K. Debe, “Electrocatalyst approaches and challenges for automotive fuel cells”, Nature, Vol. 486, No. 7401, pp. 43–51, (2012).
[8]. A. Kongkanand and M. F. Mathias, “The priority and challenge of high-power performance of low-platinum proton-exchange membrane fuel cells”, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 7, No. 7, pp. 1127–1137, (2016).
[9]. P. A. Loichet Torres et al., “ORR activity and voltage-cycling stability of a carbon-supported PtxY alloy catalyst evaluated in a PEM fuel cell”, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 170, No. 12, p. 124503, (2023).
[10]. X. Zhao et al., “Simultaneous improvements in performance and durability of an octahedral PtNix/C electrocatalyst for next-generation fuel cells by continuous, compressive, and concave Pt skin layers”, ACS Catalysis, Vol. 7, No. 7, pp. 4642–4654, (2017).
[11]. Y. Shao, J. Liu, Y. Wang and Y. Lin, “Novel catalyst support materials for PEM fuel cells: Current status and future prospects”, Journal of Materials Chemistry, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 46–59, (2009).
[12]. E. Antolini, “Carbon supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Vol. 88, No. 1–2, pp. 1–24, (2009).
[13]. J. C. Meier et al., “Degradation mechanisms of Pt/C fuel cell catalysts under simulated start–stop conditions”, ACS Catalysis, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 832–843, (2012).
[14]. R. Borup et al., “Scientific aspects of polymer electrolyte fuel cell durability and degradation”, Chemical Reviews, Vol. 107, No. 10, pp. 3904–3951, (2007).
[15]. H. Wang et al., “Direct and continuous strain control of catalysts with tunable battery electrode materials”, Science, Vol. 354, No. 6315, pp. 1031–1036, (2016).
[16]. S. Karadeniz and N. Ayas, “Microwave-assisted synthesis of Pt/C catalyst at high temperatures for PEM fuel cells”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 52, pp. 1564–1576, (2024).
[17]. F. Zhan et al., “Recent advances on support materials for enhanced Pt-based catalysts: Applications in oxygen reduction reactions for electrochemical energy storage”, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 60, No. 5, pp. 2199–2223, (2025).
[18]. M. Chourashiya, R. Sharma, S. Gyergyek and S. M. Andersen, “Gram-size Pt/C catalyst synthesized using Pt compound directly recovered from an end-of-life PEM fuel cell stack”, Materials Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 276, p. 125439, (2022).
[19]. M. Escudero-Escribano et al., “Tuning the activity of Pt alloy electrocatalysts by means of the lanthanide contraction”, Science, Vol. 352, No. 6281, pp. 73–76, (2016).
[20]. R. Lin et al., “Effect of heat treatment on the activity and stability of PtCo/C catalyst and application of in-situ X-ray absorption near edge structure for proton exchange membrane fuel cell”, Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 293, pp. 274–282, (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.05.067.
