Pt nanoparticle-supported carbon nanowalls electrode with improved durability for fuel cell applications using C2F6/H2 plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

The electrochemical durability of Pt nanoparticles-supported carbon nanowalls (Pt/CNWs) determined from potential cycle tests was 88% performance after 20 000 cycles and 50% performance around 140 000 cycles when the CNWs were fabricated by the C2F6/H2 plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system (C2F6-CNWs). Even after the extended start/stop-simulation tests of fuel cell Pt/C2F6-CNWs, Pt was aggregated; however, the morphological structure of the CNWs was maintained and no corrosion was evident from scanning electron microscopy observations and Raman analysis. For graphene-based catalyst supports, i.e., the Pt/C2F6-CNWs, graphene crystallinity is essential to extend electrochemical durability by inhibiting corrosion during fuel cell operation.