Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2022, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (4): 13-.doi: 10.1007/s41918-022-00173-3

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Controlled Synthesis of Carbon-Supported Pt-Based Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Huiyuan Liu, Jian Zhao, Xianguo Li   

  1. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
  • 收稿日期:2021-02-24 修回日期:2021-05-18 出版日期:2023-01-06 发布日期:2023-01-06
  • 通讯作者: Xianguo Li, E-mail: xianguo.li@uwaterloo.ca E-mail:xianguo.li@uwaterloo.ca
  • 基金资助:
    The work is financially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) via CRD Grant No. CRDPJ 522410–17, a Discovery Grant from the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) via Project No. 160028, and Ballard Power Systems Inc. via Project No. SRA#077701.

Controlled Synthesis of Carbon-Supported Pt-Based Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Huiyuan Liu, Jian Zhao, Xianguo Li   

  1. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
  • Received:2021-02-24 Revised:2021-05-18 Online:2023-01-06 Published:2023-01-06
  • Contact: Xianguo Li, E-mail: xianguo.li@uwaterloo.ca E-mail:xianguo.li@uwaterloo.ca
  • Supported by:
    The work is financially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) via CRD Grant No. CRDPJ 522410–17, a Discovery Grant from the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) via Project No. 160028, and Ballard Power Systems Inc. via Project No. SRA#077701.

摘要: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are playing an increasing role in postpandemic economic recovery and climate action plans. However, their performance, cost, and durability are significantly related to Pt-based electrocatalysts, hampering their large-scale commercial application. Hence, considerable efforts have been devoted to improving the activity and durability of Pt-based electrocatalysts by controlled synthesis in recent years as an effective method for decreasing Pt use, and consequently, the cost. Therefore, this review article focuses on the synthesis processes of carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, which significantly affect the nanoparticle size, shape, and dispersion on supports and thus the activity and durability of the prepared electrocatalysts. The reviewed processes include (i) the functionalization of a commercial carbon support for enhanced catalyst–support interaction and additional catalytic effects, (ii) the methods for loading Pt-based electrocatalysts onto a carbon support that impact the manufacturing costs of electrocatalysts, (iii) the preparation of spherical and nonspherical Pt-based electrocatalysts (polyhedrons, nanocages, nanoframes, one- and two-dimensional nanostructures), and (iv) the postsynthesis treatments of supported electrocatalysts. The influences of the supports, key experimental parameters, and postsynthesis treatments on Pt-based electrocatalysts are scrutinized in detail. Future research directions are outlined, including (i) the full exploitation of the potential functionalization of commercial carbon supports, (ii) scaled-up one-pot synthesis of carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, and (iii) simplification of postsynthesis treatments. One-pot synthesis in aqueous instead of organic reaction systems and the minimal use of organic ligands are preferred to simplify the synthesis and postsynthesis treatment processes and to promote the mass production of commercial carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts.

关键词: Carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, Synthesis, Shape, Functionalization of commercial carbon support, Postsynthesis treatment

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are playing an increasing role in postpandemic economic recovery and climate action plans. However, their performance, cost, and durability are significantly related to Pt-based electrocatalysts, hampering their large-scale commercial application. Hence, considerable efforts have been devoted to improving the activity and durability of Pt-based electrocatalysts by controlled synthesis in recent years as an effective method for decreasing Pt use, and consequently, the cost. Therefore, this review article focuses on the synthesis processes of carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, which significantly affect the nanoparticle size, shape, and dispersion on supports and thus the activity and durability of the prepared electrocatalysts. The reviewed processes include (i) the functionalization of a commercial carbon support for enhanced catalyst–support interaction and additional catalytic effects, (ii) the methods for loading Pt-based electrocatalysts onto a carbon support that impact the manufacturing costs of electrocatalysts, (iii) the preparation of spherical and nonspherical Pt-based electrocatalysts (polyhedrons, nanocages, nanoframes, one- and two-dimensional nanostructures), and (iv) the postsynthesis treatments of supported electrocatalysts. The influences of the supports, key experimental parameters, and postsynthesis treatments on Pt-based electrocatalysts are scrutinized in detail. Future research directions are outlined, including (i) the full exploitation of the potential functionalization of commercial carbon supports, (ii) scaled-up one-pot synthesis of carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, and (iii) simplification of postsynthesis treatments. One-pot synthesis in aqueous instead of organic reaction systems and the minimal use of organic ligands are preferred to simplify the synthesis and postsynthesis treatment processes and to promote the mass production of commercial carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts.

Key words: Carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts, Synthesis, Shape, Functionalization of commercial carbon support, Postsynthesis treatment