Deposition of Pt inside fuel cell electrodes using high power impulse magnetron sputtering

Abstract

The high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) process is used to incorporate catalytic nanoclusters of platinum into microporous carbon. Such a process leads to an enhancement of the Pt species' penetration into the porous medium, as evidenced by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy analysis. Each sample of catalyzed porous carbon is tested as a cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). An increase of 80% at 0.65 V of the PEMFC power density for a low catalyst loading of 0.02 mg cm−2 highlights the use of the HiPIMS process versus the conventional dc magnetron sputtering process.