Improvement of Cathode Performance on Pt-CeOx by Optimization of Electrochemical Pretreatment Condition for PEFC Application

Pt-CeOx/C electrocatalysts for the improvement of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity on cathode were prepared by a combined process of precipitation and co-impregnation methods. The Pt-CeOx/C electrocatalysts pretreated by the optimized electrochemical conditioning process showed high ORR activity as compared with homemade Pt/C electrocatalyst. Also, it showed high stability in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) test up to 1000 cycles into 0.5 M H2SO4 aqueous solution. On the basis of the data of cyclic voltammogram of 30 cyclic sweeps, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscope image, and selected area electron diffraction analysis, it is concluded that the Pt-CeOx heterointerface involving the defect cluster formed by using optimized electrochemical pretreatment conditions on Pt in Pt-CeOx/C electro-catalyst contributes to the promotion of ORR activity and retention of its stability in long CV tests up to 1000 cycles.