Pt and PtX nanoclusters prepared by gas aggregation cluster source for proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Résumé
Well defined nanoclusters are produced by gas aggregation cluster source (GAS) on perfluoropolymer membranes (Nafion® used as ion conductive electrolyte in fuel cell). This technique differs from the conventional magnetron sputtering (MS) in several ways. By GAS technique, the sputtered atomic vapor is cooled in a high pressure gas mixture which promotes the nucleation and the growth of nanoclusters in the gas phase. The condensed particles are collected on the membrane placed in a high vacuum apparatus. In DCMS, the nucleation and the growth occur on the substrate in DCMS which make it difficult to control the size, the shape and the crystalline properties of the nanoclusters without a thermal post-treatment. The main objective of the study is to control such parameters by using the GAS technique in order to promote fuel cell properties.