Durability investigation of carbon nanotube as catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Electrochemical surface oxidation of carbon black Vulcan XC-72 and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) has been compared following potentiostatic treatments up to 168 h under condition simulating PEMFC cathode environment (60 degrees C, N-2 purged 0.5 M H-2 SO4, and a constant potential of 0.9 V). The subsequent electrochemical characterization at different treatment time intervals suggests that MWNT is electrochemically more stable than Vulcan XC-72 with less surface oxide formation and 30% lower corrosion current under the investigated condition. As a result of high corrosion resistance, MWNT shows lower loss of Pt surface area and oxygen reduction reaction activity when used as fuel cell catalyst support. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.