Enhancement of high temperature PEMFC stability using catalysts based on Pt supported on SiC based materials

• Pt has been successfully deposited on new SiC based supports.
• The SiC based supports showed a higher electrochemical stability.
• The Pt/SiC needs higher activation times when the cell operates with air.
• First single cell results at 160 °C of new catalyst based on SiC materials.
• The Pt/SiCTiC catalyst showed a very high stability in single cell at 160 °C.

With the aim of overcome the carbon supports of high temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) electrodes, two novel non-carbonaceous support based on SiC have been assessed, SiC and SiCTiC. 40% wt. Pt was successfully deposited on them and they were physicochemical and electrochemically characterized. Both catalysts on SiC based materials showed a very high electrochemical stability in the half cell experiments in comparison with Pt on carbon support, showing a lower degradation rate of the electrochemical surface area (ECSA). Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) were prepared with the different catalysts and tested in a single cell (25 cm2) operated at 160 °C. The Pt/SiCTiC showed a good performance and the highest stability in the fuel cell tests carried under the same operation conditions.

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