Performance and Stability of PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Synthesized Using ALD

Several platinum nanoparticle catalysts supported on XC72 were created using various chemistries during atomic layer deposition (ALD). The resulting platinum loading, particle size and particle dispersion were dependent on the chemistry of the deposition. The catalytic performance of each kind of particle was assessed in a PEM fuel cell. ALD catalysts were found to be comparable to commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. Thermal stability tests determined platinum nanoparticle growth was the slowest for platinum particles made using hydrogen as a second precursor.