ORR activity and PEM fuel cell performance of the platinum catalyst decorated on heat-treated carbon black

This paper presents the findings on the heat treatment of Vulcan XC 72R carbon black. The treatment was conducted at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1500 °C, and the study explores its application as a catalyst support material in PEM fuel cells. The decoration of Pt nanoparticles (NPs), ranging in size from 3 to 4 nm and having loading rates of 13%–15% on support materials, was achieved using a microwave-assisted polyol method. When testing the PEM fuel cell at a retention potential of 0.6 V, the Pt/Vulcan XC 72R-1000 (MEA-2) demonstrated a current density of 649.2 mA/cm2 and a power density of 388.2 mW/cm2 (@0.6 V). The Tanaka catalyst (MEA-6) exhibited a current density of 633.8 mA/cm2 and a power density of 379.0 mW/cm2 (@0.6 V). After subjecting identical catalysts to 1000 aging cycles at voltages ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 V, the PEM fuel cell measurements were repeated at a retention potential of 0.1 V. The Pt/Vulcan XC 72R-1000 and Tanaka catalysts experienced a loss of 22.07% and 58.35% in their current densities (@0.6 V), respectively. Additionally, after exposing the Pt/Vulcan XC 72R-1000 catalyst to carbon corrosion at 1.2 V, the Pt particle size increased from 4.1 nm to 4.3 nm. All analyses revealed that heat-treated Vulcan XC 72R carbon black enhanced the performance and durability of the Pt catalyst in PEM fuel cells, with optimal results achieved at a temperature of 1000 °C.