Pt/C catalyst for PEM fuel cells: Control of Pt nanoparticles characteristics through a novel plasma deposition method

- Plasma treatment of carbon black and metallic precursor in a solid form is efficient to form small nanoparticles.
- The decomposition of the metallic precursor depends on the gas nature and on the plasma power.
- Interaction between plasma species and the carbon black support induces chemical and structural defects.
- Chemical and structural defects act as anchoring sites for nanoparticle nucleation.