Evaluation of PtAu/MWCNT (Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes) electrocatalyst performance as cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

A comparative study between PtAu/MWCNT and Pt/C (commercial) as cathodic electrocatalyst of H2/O2 fuel cell is performed. PtAu/MWCNT is synthesized using the reverse microemulsion method and this procedure is scaled-up in order to prepare membrane-electrode assemblies for fuel cells with an active area of 9 cm2. Those electrocatalysts are characterized by both physicochemical techniques and electrochemical measurements to evaluate their catalytic activity for ORR (Oxygen Reduction Reaction). In the half-cell study, PtAu/MWCNT show higher kinetic current density as cathodic electrocatalyst compared with Pt/C. Likewise, in a fuel cell hardware the maximum power density is significantly higher for PtAu/MWCNT cathode (625 mW cm−2 at 0.426 V) when compared with Pt/C anode (355 mW cm−2 at 0.499 V).