Three 40 wt % Pt/C electrocatalysts prepared using two different approaches—the polyol process and electrochemical dispersion of platinum under pulse alternating current—and a commercial Pt/C catalyst (Johnson Matthey prod.) were examined via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The stability characteristics of the Pt/C catalysts were studied via long-term cycling, revealing that, for all cycling modes, the best stability was achieved for the Pt/C catalyst with the largest platinum nanoparticle sizes, which was synthesized via electrochemical dispersion of platinum under pulse alternating current. Our results show that the mass and specific electrocatalytic activities of Pt/C catalysts toward ethanol electrooxidation are determined by the value of the electrochemically active Pt surface area in the catalysts.
Power supply systems based on air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks are becoming more popular as power sources for mobile applications. We try to create a PEMFC model that allows for predicting the PEMFC operation in various climatic conditions. A total of two models were developed and used: the membrane electrode assemble (MEA) model and the PEMFC stack model. The developed MEA model allows to determine the influence of external factors (temperature) on the PEMFC power density. The data obtained using the developed model correlate with experimental data at low ambient temperatures (10–30 °C). The difference between the simulation and experimental data is less than 10%. However, the accuracy of the model during PEMFC operation at high (>30 °C) and negative ambient temperatures remains in doubt and requires improvement. The obtained data were integrated into the air-cooled PEMFC stack model. Data of the temperature fields distribution will help to manage the processes in the PEMFC stack. The maximum temperature is slightly above 60 °C, which corresponds to the optimal conditions for the operation of the stack. The temperature gradient across the longitudinal section is very low (<20 °C), which is a positive factor for the chemical reaction. However, the temperature gradient observed across the cross section of the PEMFC stack is 30 °C. The data obtained will help to optimize the mass-dimensional characteristics of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell and increase their performance. The synergetic effect between the MEA model and the PEMFC stack model can be successfully used in the selection of materials and the development of a thermoregulation system in the PEMFC stack.
Pd‐PdO/C catalyst for formic acid electrooxidation has been synthesized via electrochemical dispersion of Pd foil electrodes under pulse alternating current conditions in NaCl aqueous electrolyte. About 35 wt% of the as‐prepared Pd‐PdO/C specimen is PdO as revealed by X‐ray diffraction. The microstructural characteristics and catalytic activity of the synthesized Pd/C catalyst have been compared with those of a Pt/C catalyst prepared under the same conditions. Pd nanoparticles of Pd‐PdO/C catalyst exhibit smaller average dimensions and narrower particle size distribution – 7.4±0.5 nm and 1.9±0.5 respectively for Pd and PdO particles. The process of ethanol electrooxidation on the catalyst was characterized by high overvoltage (up to 800 mV). The overvoltage of the formic acid electrochemical oxidation on Pd/C is 590 mV less than on Pt/C.
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