Ultralow Pt Doped on N-based Carbon as a Promising Electrocatalyst for High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

Developing a feasible method to massively fabricate low-cost and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is highly anticipated to the commercialization of fuel cells. In this work, N atoms were doped into inert sp2 configuration to alter the spin and charge distribution in the carbon matrix. The Pt/H2–N–C catalyst was successfully prepared by embedding ultralow Pt nanoparticles on N-based carbon. Results indicated that the protonated N-groups at edge sites efficiently regulated the absorption of the PtCl62– anion and widely limited the migration of Pt species at 1000 °C. The acquired Pt/H2–N–C electrocatalyst exhibited high ORR performance in the acidic electrolyte. The high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) measurement illustrated that the open-circuit voltage and power density of the Pt/H2–N–C catalyst were higher than those of the commercial 20% Pt/C at 150 °C. This work provided a facile strategy to obtain efficient and low-cost Pt catalysts for ORR and HT-PEMFCs.