Activities of Pt/Sibunit-1562 catalysts in the ORR in PEMFC: Effect of Pt content and Pt load at cathode

In this paper, a systematic investigation was carried out of activities at 80 °C of Pt supported on Sibunit-1562 graphitized carbon in the electroreduction of oxygen in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Pt content in the Pt/Sibunit-1562 catalysts was 20, 40, and 60 wt.% and Pt load at the cathode was varied in the 200–6.25 μgPt cm−2 interval. The results were compared with the activity of commercial 20 wt.% Pt/Vulcan XC-72 catalyst. To optimize the transport properties of the cathode layer and maintain its thickness upon using Pt/Sibunit −1562 catalysts with varied Pt content and Pt loads a definite amount of Vulcan-XC-72 carbon support was added to the cathode catalytic inks. Higher activity of Pt/Sibunit-1562 catalysts was found as compared to that of commercial 20 wt.% Pt/Vulcan XC-72 with similar particle size of the active component.

► New carbon material Sibunit-1562 was suggested as the cathode support for PEMFC.
► The effect of the addition of Vulcan XC-72 black carbon to the cathode layer was studied.
► The ORR activities of the series of 20, 40, and 60 wt.% Pt/Sibunit-1562 catalysts with different Pt loads were obtained in PEMFC.