Preparation of Membrane Electrode Assemblies Using Waste Tire Derived Carbon Supported Platinum Catalyst

Abstract

Carbon supported Pt catalyst materials were synthesized from waste tire derived carbon by two different methods (microwave and refluxing). Catalysts and carbons were physically (XRD, N2 sorption analysis, TGA) and electrochemically characterized (RDE, CV, PEMFC single cell measurements). The RDE measurements were performed in 0.1 M HClO4 solution. For PEMFC single cell measurements, membrane-electrode assembly systems (MEAs) were prepared from catalyst materials by using different methods of coating the cathode layer and additional treatments. Catalysts were sprayed onto the membrane or GDL. In addition, MEAs were prepared where the catalyst was pipetted into GDL in several drops. Some of the MEAs were additionally treated with extra layer of Nafion and hot-pressed. The highest power density (0.42 W cm−2) was achieved with the MEA where the Pt catalyst synthesized via refluxing method was coated on the GDL with multiple drops and additional treatments were applied.