Highly Stable Nanocarbon Supported Pt Catalyst for Fuel Cell Via a Molten Salt Graphitization Strategy

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) durability has been severely hindered by poor stability of carbon support in the cathodic Pt-based catalyst. Herein, a high-surface-area nitrogen doped graphitic nanocarbon (N-G-CA) with mesopores is developed as Pt support to address PEMFCs durability challenge. Nitrogen atoms are introduced into carbon aerogel via NH 3 heat treatment. Molten salt graphitized strategy is reported for nitrogen doped carbon aerogel transferring into N-G-CA via heating it with metal salts (Fe, Co, or Mn salts) at 1200℃. Pt/N-G-CA exhibits superior durability and activity than commercial Pt/C. After 30, 000 cycles accelerated aging test in the rotating-desk-electrode, half potential of Pt/N-G-CA only lost 10mV. Only 12mV voltage loss at 1.5A/cm 2 is observed, after 5, 000 voltage cycles for membrane electrode. The high durability of Pt/N-G-CA is due to N-G-CA high graphitization extent, as well as the interactions between doping nitrogen and Pt. Mechanism of the novel graphitized strategy is illustrated as carbon atoms dissolved into metal species and precipitated as graphene layers. The reported nanocarbon is promising as stable support for durable Pt-based catalysts in PEMFCs, thanks to enhanced carbon corrosion resistance, uniformly dispersed Pt, and strong support-metals interaction