High specific surface area Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 promoted Pt/C electro-catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and CO oxidation reaction in PEMFCs

A series of Pt–Ce0.8Zr0.2O2/C electrocatalysts with various content of Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 were synthesized by one-pot synthesis process by ethylene glycol (EG) method. High specific surface area nanosized Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 was prepared by a surfactant-templated method. Effect of the addition of Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 for the electro-catalytic activities of Pt/C catalysts were detected by cyclic voltammetry (CV), liner cyclic voltammetry (LSV) and CO-stripping techniques. It was found that 40 wt%Pt–10 wt%Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 exhibited a better activity among those catalysts for hydrogen and CO oxidation reaction. The membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) fabricated with 40 wt%Pt–10 wt%Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 as the anode exhibited the excellent catalytic activity toward hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and reached 490 mW cm−2 at 0.49 V in a single cell test. The electrocatalytic effect related to the change in the electrocatalyst structure was discussed based on the XRD and TEM data. Also, the electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) were used to assess the effect of the addition of Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 for the performance of fuel cells.

• High specific surface area Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 promoted Pt/C catalysts for carbon monoxide oxidation.
• Pt–Ce0.8Zr0.2O2/C catalysts were characterized by CV, LSV and CO-stripping techniques.
• 40 wt%Pt–10 wt%Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 exhibited a better activity.
• Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 would decrease the active surface area of catalysts and also increase the charge resistance of fuel cell.