Reduced Graphene Oxide and Its Modifications as Catalyst Supports and Catalyst Layer Modifiers for PEMFC

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is a promising support material for catalysts.
• Surface modification of RGO can influence catalyst properties and performance.
• Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles are crucial catalysts in fuel cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize ozone (RGO-O) and fluorine (RGO-F) modified RGO materials.
• To deposit platinum nanoparticles on these modified RGO supports and Vulcan XC-72.
• To evaluate the structural, electrochemical, and fuel cell performance of the synthesized catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of RGO, RGO-O, and RGO-F.
• Polyol method for platinum nanoparticle deposition.
• Electrochemical characterization using a three-electrode cell.
• Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell testing.

Main Results:

• RGO-O supported catalysts exhibited the highest electrochemically active surface area (EASA).
• RGO-F supported catalysts showed half the EASA compared to RGO-O.
• RGO-based catalysts alone did not outperform Vulcan XC-72.
• Adding RGO-O to Vulcan XC-72 improved catalyst layer activity and PEM fuel cell performance.

Conclusions:

• Ozone modification of RGO enhances its suitability as a catalyst support.
• RGO-O, when combined with Vulcan XC-72, offers improved PEM fuel cell performance.
• The synergistic effect of RGO-O and Vulcan XC-72 warrants further investigation.