Sulfated-zirconia as a support of Pt catalyst for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Sulfated-zirconia supported Pt (Pt/S-ZrO2) was synthesized using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and used as a cathode electrocatalyst in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Pt/S-ZrO2 (Pt:53 wt %) electrode showed sufficient electron conductivity, which caused no large iR loss in the single cell performance up to 2.5 A cm(-2). When no Nafion ionomer was added to the cathode catalyst layer, cell performance with Pt/S-ZrO2 cathode was higher than that with Pt/C cathode. The results indicate that S-ZrO2 support acts as a proton conductor in the catalyst layer. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.