Enhancing PEM fuel cell performance by introducing additional thin layers to sputter-deposited Pt catalysts

The performance of fuel cells prepared for reference from commercially catalyzed electrodes with standard carbon-supported Pt loadings of 0.5 and 1 mg cm−2 could be improved after treatment of the electrodes in an oxygen plasma. The physically assisted removal of carbon and CF-groups from the surface in the oxygen plasma most likely uncovers more Pt sites from the carbon-supported Pt catalyst.