Precursor solvent influence on preparation and electrochemical properties of platinum nanoparticles electrodes

The crystalline sizes and loading efficiencies of metallic nanoparticles for fuel cell catalysts have been measured by changing solvent species containing precursors. By changing the solvent species containing carbon particles and metal salt, the microstructure and the according electrochemical property of catalysts could be controlled. Four kinds of solvent were investigated in this study. Pt catalysts that were deposited on carbon blacks supports by using an ethylene glycol solution showed the highest deposition efficiency, 85% and smallest crystalline size, 2.85 nm of particles. From the experimental result, it was concluded that the electrochemical performance of catalysts was dependent on the crystalline size and deposition efficiency of metal particles, by changing solvent species.