Electrodeposition of Pt/CeO2/MWCNT as Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenger for Chemical Degradation Mitigation of Nafion Membrane

Pt/CeO2 electrocatalysts were coated on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) substrate using a facile electrochemical deposition technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for characterization the Pt/CeO2/MWCNT catalyst. The electrochemical behavior of prepared electrocatalysts was studied in acidic pH using cyclic voltammetry measurement at ambient temperature. Next, Fenton test was carried out as an ex-situ accelerated experiment for 96 h to investigate the performance Pt/CeO2/MWCNT electrocatalysts in chemical degradation mitigation of Nafion membrane. The impact of adding CeO2 on chemical degradation mitigation of the Nafion was investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluoride emission rate, weight loss, and SEM tests. Achieved outcomes showed that CeO2 nanoparticles could considerably enhance the chemical degradation mitigation of the Nafion membrane in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). (C) 2019 The Electrochemical Society.