Abstract
Nano-crystallites of molybdenum carbide, Mo2C, were synthesized via modified polymer-assisted deposition (mPAD) and utilized as platinum support material for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, as alternative for the commonly used, corrosion-prone, carbon supports. The Mo2C durability, corrosion-resistance and effect on the oxygen reduction reaction with deposited Pt Nano-particles was studied. The synthesized ceramic compound was found to be devoid of free carbon, as opposed to other carbides synthesized in the past, making it potentially compatible for fuel cell electrode material. The molybdenum carbide appeared to improve the electro-catalytic activity of Pt catalyst, showing an increase in both, the mass activity (three times higher at 0.85 V vs. RHE), and half-wave potential (by 70 mV), when compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst. As anticipated, the durability was also increased, showing 40% more resistance to chemical and physical corrosion than standard commercial Pt/C catalyst/support system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | F825-F830 |
| Journal | Journal of the Electrochemical Society |
| Volume | 164 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Funding
This work was conducted as part of the mission of the Israeli Fuel Cells Consortium (part of the Israeli National Center for Electrochemical Propulsion). The authors thank MAFAT, the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources and VATAT for funding this project. They would also like to thank Omree Kapon for helping in the Raman measurement.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Israeli Fuel Cells Consortium | |
| Omree Kapon | |
| VATAT | |
| Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources | |
| Israel National Research Center for Electrochemical Propulsion |
