Pt/C Electrocatalyst Durability Enhancement by Inhibition of Pt Nanoparticle Growth Through Microwave Pretreatment of Carbon Support

Durability enhancement of Pt supported on carbon (Pt/C) electrocatalysts through a simple microwave (MW) pretreatment the support has been studied. Vulcan XC 72 (either in suspension or dry state) was subjected to MW irritation for short period time (∼5 min) prior synthesis Pt/C (20 wt.% Pt) polyol route. Platinum deposited onto MW-pretreated and unmodified carbons demonstrated similar initial particle size distributions (average ∼3.3 nm) electrochemical surface area (ECSA). However, ECSA evolution based an accelerated stress test (AST) acidic conditions suggested clear durability samples over equivalent. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images post-AST reveal spherical nanorod morphologies nanoparticles untreated MW–pretreated supports, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidences presence active sites (C−O*) generated from irradiation. Those turned out be suitable nucleation redeposition dissolved species form new during AST. The mechanism reduces rate nanoparticle loss, thus provides increased durability. proposed concept opens territory scalable process further advance electrocatalyst.