Use of cellulose-based carbon aerogels as catalyst support for PEM fuel cell electrodes: Electrochemical characterization

Elodie Guilminot (1) , Florent Fisher (2) , Marian Chatenet (1) , Arnaud Rigacci (2) , Sandrine Berthon-Fabry (2) , Eric Chaînet (1)

1 LEPMI - Laboratoire d'Electrochimie et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux et des Interfaces
2 CEP - Centre Énergétique et Procédés

New nanostructured carbons have been developed through pyrolysis of organic aerogels, based on supercritical drying of cellulose acetate gels. These cellulose acetate-based carbon aerogels (CA) are activated by CO₂ at 800 °C and impregnated by PtCl₆^2–; the platinum salt is then chemically or electrochemically reduced. The resulting platinized carbon aerogels (Pt/CA) are characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemistry. The active area of platinum is estimated from hydrogen adsorption/desorption or CO-stripping voltammetry: it is possible to deposit platinum nanoparticles onto the cellulose acetate-based carbon aerogel surface in significant proportions. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetic parameters of the Pt/CA materials, determined from quasi-steady-state voltammetry, are comparable with that of Pt/Vulcan XC72R. These cellulose acetate-based carbon aerogels are thus promising electrocatalyst support for PEM application.

Mots clés: Cellulose acetate; Carbon aerogel; Electrocatalyst support; Platinum nanoparticles; PEM fuel cell

Domaines: Matériaux

Elodie Guilminot, Florent Fisher, Marian Chatenet, Arnaud Rigacci, Sandrine Berthon-Fabry, et al.. Use of cellulose-based carbon aerogels as catalyst support for PEM fuel cell electrodes: Electrochemical characterization. Journal of Power Sources, 2007, 166 (1), pp. 104-111. ⟨10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.12.084⟩. ⟨hal-00333811⟩