PEDOT-PSSA as an alternative support for Pt electrodes in PEFCs

Abstract

Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly (styrene sulphonic acid) (PSSA) supported platinum (Pt) electrodes for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are reported. PEDOT-PSSA support helps Pt particles to be uniformly distributed on to the electrodes, and facilitates mixed electronic and ionic (H + -ion) conduction within the catalyst, ameliorating Pt utilization. The inherent proton conductivity of PEDOT-PSSA composite also helps reducing Nafion content in PEFC electrodes. During prolonged operation of PEFCs, Pt electrodes supported onto PEDOT-PSSA composite exhibit lower corrosion in relation to Pt electrodes supported onto commercially available Vulcan XC-72R carbon. Physical properties of PEDOT-PSSA composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. PEFCs with PEDOT-PSSA-supported Pt catalyst electrodes offer a peak power-density of 810 mW cm -2 at a load current-density of 1800 mA cm -2 with Nafion content as low as 5 wt.% in the catalyst layer. Accordingly, the present study provides a novel alternative support for platinized PEFC electrodes.

A novel multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-based nanocomposite for PEFC electrodes

“…In the spectra, peaks at 1034 cm −1 , 1394 cm −1 , and 1489 cm −1 are due to C-O-C bond stretching of ethylenedioxy group and a set of peaks at 420 cm −1 , 620 cm −1 and 820 cm −1 are assigned to the C-S bond of thiophene ring (Han et al 2007). Peaks appearing at 1200 cm −1 and 930 cm −1 due to the SO − 3 and S-OH stretching of PSS are observed in both the spectra (Tintula et al 2010). MWNTs/PEDOT-PSS nanocomposite shows features similar to the standard PEDOT-PSS polymeric composite.…”

PEDOT/C Composites used as a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Catalyst Support: Role of Carbon Amount

“…To overcome this problem, conducting polymers and their composites were reported in the literature as a catalyst support for fuel cells owing to their high electronic and proton conductivity as well as chemical stability and high oxidation resistance . A number of conducting polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were investigated as conducting catalyst support materials for different fuel cell types . Zhao et al .…”

“…As a result, the electrocatalytic activity of galvanostatically prepared PANI was much higher than that of potentiostatically prepared PANI for methanol oxidation. Tintula et al . reported the utilization of PEDOT/PSSA (PSSA=poly(strenesulfonic acid))‐supported Pt electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and they showed that PEDOT/PSSA demonstrates better fuel‐cell performance with a power density of 605 mW cm −2 compared to Pt/Vulcan XC‐72R (575 mW cm −2 ).…”

“…[13] An umber of conducting polymers,s uch as polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were investigated as conducting catalyst support materialsf or different fuel cell types. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Zhao et al [14] prepared nanostructured PPy carbonc omposite as an electrocatayst support and studied the effect of napthalene sulfonic acid as ad opanto nt he electrochemical oxidationo fh ydrogen and methanol. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV), they showede xcellent electrochemical catalytic activity for hydrogen and methanoloxidation.…”

“…As ar esult, the electrocatalytic activity of galvanostatically prepared PA NI wasm uch higher than that of potentiostatically prepared PA NI for methanol oxidation. Tintula et al [16] reported the utilization of PEDOT/PSSA (PSSA = poly(strenesulfonic acid))-supported Pt electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and they showed that PEDOT/PSSAd emonstrates better fuel-cell performancew ith ap ower density of 605 mW cm À2 comparedt oP t/Vulcan XC-72RCarbon-based support materials are mostlyu sed in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs);h owever,t hey often suffer from degradation under the operating conditions.I nt his context, conducting polymers and their composites stand out as ag ood alternatives upport materialt hanks to their chemical stability,h igh electrical conductivity, and higher oxidation-resistant properties,w hich fulfills the requirementsf or possible utilization as electrocatalyst in PEMFCs.T his study reports the preparation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/carbon (PEDOT/C) composite-supported Pt nanoparticles for PEMFC electrodes.F irst, PEDOT/C composites were preparedu sing different carbon amounts by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of EDOT monomer on carbonp articles.T hen, Pt nanoparticles (about 20 %l oading) were obtained by using am icrowave irradiation techniquea si ti sf ast, inexpensive, energy and time saving,a nd ecofriendly.T he successful synthesis was confirmed by XRD,T EM, and thermogravimetric analysis investigations.T he surface area and pore structure of the PEDOT/C supports wasa lso investigatedb yu sing the BET technique.T he ex situ and in situe lectrochemicala nalyses were performed by using cyclic voltammetry and PEMFC performance tests.T he obtained resultsf or the fuel cell open the way for the use of PEDOT/C composite support materials as electrocatalysts for fuel cells.…”