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Co-sputtered low platinum loaded PtTi binary electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells

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Abstract

PtTi binary electrocatalysts with low Pt loading at the electrodes have been developed by plasma magnetron co-sputtering method under optimized conditions without significant loss in cell performance. Loading of the electrodes in the range of 0.05–0.40 mg cm−2 is achieved by controlling sputtering time. Deposition at 0.15 mbar argon pressure leads to the formation of conical nanopillars like structures, which play an essential role in the electrochemical activity, durability and cell performance of the electrocatalysts, offering a high electrochemically active surface area. The best assembled Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) i.e. MEA4 with a prepared electrode of five times less PtTi catalysts loading than standard Pt/C exhibits a maximum power density of 0.604 W cm−2 compared to standard Pt/C electrode with the maximum power density of 0.618 W cm−2. In addition, nine times high Pt mass-specific and five times high PtTi mass-specific power density have been achieved in comparison to commercial Pt/C electrodes.

Graphical abstract

The energy conversion of PEM fuel cell occurs through HOR and ORR in presence of suitable catalyst(s). High surface area of the catalyst(s) is desirable for better performance of the cell. The best assembled MEA with low loaded co-sputtered PtTi binary catalyst exhibits maximum power density of 0.604 W cm-2.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, Govt. of India under the Grant SERB File No: CRG/2020/003381. One of the authors, I. Farid would like to thank DST–INSPIRE for financial support. The authors also like to acknowledge the instrumentation facilities of IASST Guwahati, IIT Guwahati, India and CSIR NEIST Jorhat, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Sciences Division, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam, 781035, India

    Ibnul Farid, Joyanti Chutia & Heremba Bailung

  2. Department of Instrumentation and USIC, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, 781014, India

    Ibnul Farid

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  1. Ibnul Farid
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  2. Joyanti Chutia
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Correspondence to Joyanti Chutia.

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Farid, I., Chutia, J. & Bailung, H. Co-sputtered low platinum loaded PtTi binary electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. J Chem Sci 134, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12039-021-02015-z

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