Sub-nano-Pt cluster supported on graphene nanosheets for CO tolerant catalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

The carbon monoxide (CO) tolerance performance of polymer electrode fuel cells (PEFCs) was studied for a catalyst composed of graphene nanosheets (GNS) with sub-nano-Pt clusters. The Pt catalysts supported on the GNS showed a higher CO tolerance performance in the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), which was significantly different from that of platinum on carbon black (Pt/CB). It is proposed that the presence of the sub-nano-Pt clusters promotes the catalytic activity and that the substrate carbon material alters the catalytic properties of Pt via the interface interactions between the graphene and the Pt. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.