PtM/C catalyst prepared using reverse micelle method for oxygen reduction reaction in PEM fuel cells

Synthesis of carbo n-supported PtM/C catalysts (M = Co, Cr, or Fe) using a new preparation technique, a reverse micelle method, is reported. The catalysts were characterized by different surface techniques: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope,transmission electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Surface characterization showed that Pt/M nanoparticles on catalysts were synthesized using the reverse micelle method. Pt/M nanoparticles were observed to be uniform spherical objects. The performance of the PtM/C catalysts was tested by the rotating disk electrode technique. A trend of catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was obtained: PtCo/C(T, 500) similar to PtCo/C(S) > PtCr/C(S) > PtFe/C(S) similar to Pt/C > PtFe/C(T, 500) similar to PtCr/C(T, 500), showing that PtCo/C-type catalysts had a higher catalytic activity for ORR.