Transmission Electron Microscopy Observation of the Fuel Cell Catalyst Degradation during the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract:

Increasing durability of catalysts used in fuel cells is a necessary condition for their widespread commercialization. Fulfilling this condition requires understanding the catalyst degradation mechanism to propose how to reduce it. Transmission electron microscopy can help solve this problem thanks to the fact that it enables direct observation and thus unambiguous interpretation of the processes taking place. For this purpose, Identical Location Transmission Electron Microscopy (IL-TEM) was applied for observations of a commercial catalyst (platinum nanoparticles with a diameter of about 2 nm deposited on Vulcan carbon black) before and after durability tests. Obtained results may contribute to the development of better models of phenomena occurring during cell operation.

• Periodical: Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volume 420)
• Pages: 91-100
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-975920
• Online since: November 2022
• Authors: Mirosława Pawlyta*, Szymon Smykała, Barbara Liszka, Agata Blacha-Grzechnik
• Keywords: Carbon Black, Catalyst, Fuel Cell, Platinum, Transmission Electron Microscopy

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