Effect of carbon ratio in the polypyrrole/carbon composite catalyst support on PEM fuel cell performance

• Polypyrrole/carbon composites with different carbon ratios were synthesized.
• Pt nanoparticles were decorated over these composites via microwave irradiation.
• These catalysts were used as anode and cathode electrodes of PEM fuel cells.
• PEM fuel cell performance was improved with increasing carbon ratio in composites.

In the last years new carbon and/or composite materials have been suggested as support for PEM fuel cell catalysts to improve the stability of the catalysts. In the present study, polypyrrole (PPy) was used as conducting polymer and PPy/carbon composites having different carbon ratios were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole on carbon black. Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles over these composites were achieved by using microwave irradiation technique. Physicochemical characterizations of the composites were carried out by using BET, TEM, XRD and TGA techniques. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements were used to determine the ex-situ electrocatalytic activity and also the degradation behaviors of the prepared catalysts. In situ PEM fuel cell performance tests were used to evaluate the effect of carbon ratio in composite material on PEM fuel cell performance. PEM fuel cell performance was increased as the carbon ratio in the composite was increased.

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