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Nanocomposite TiO2-f-MWCNTs as durable support for Pt in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

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Abstract

Durability is a major issue and has been the growing focus of research for the successful commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Corrosion of carbon support is one of the major forms of Pt/C degradation and affects cell performance during prolonged operation. In the present study, TiO2 nanoparticles are incorporated in functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to form TiO2-f-MWCNT nanocomposite-supported Pt which improves the durability of PEFC. Pt/TiO2-f-MWCNT electrocatalyst with different compositions has been prepared by a colloidal method, and their morphological and microstructural properties were investigated. Optimum ratio of TiO2-f-MWCNT-supported Pt shows improved overall cell performance than that of f-MWCNT-supported Pt. Accelerated stress test (AST) shows Pt/TiO2-f-MWCNT electrocatalyst possesses superior electrochemical activity and long-term stability for oxygen reduction in relation to Pt/f-MWCNT. High activity and durability is observed for TiO2-f-MWCNTs as catalyst support through its interaction with Pt and retains more than 75% of the initial electrochemical activity in PEFCs even after 200 h of AST.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. S. D. Bhat CSIR thanks grant (No. DU-MLP-0090) under CSIR-Young Scientist Award Scheme. Dr. S. Vinod Selvaganesh and Mr. P. Dhanasekaran gratefully acknowledge CSIR for Research Associateship. Authors thank the Director and the Head, PPMG, CECRI, for their support and encouragement. We also thank Mr. A. Rathishkumar, Senior Technical Officer, CECRI, for his help in TEM characterization.

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  1. CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute-Madras Unit, CSIR Madras Complex, Chennai, 600 113, India

    S. Vinod Selvaganesh, P. Dhanasekaran & Santoshkumar D. Bhat

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  1. S. Vinod Selvaganesh
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  3. Santoshkumar D. Bhat
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Vinod Selvaganesh, S., Dhanasekaran, P. & Bhat, S.D. Nanocomposite TiO2-f-MWCNTs as durable support for Pt in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. J Solid State Electrochem 21, 2997–3009 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3628-x

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