Synthesis and characterization of core-shell nanoparticles for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract

In recent years, low-carbon and non-carbon producing methods are investigated and applied all over the world owing to a more environmentally conscious society. Within these methods, fuel cells show great potential for clean energy production with high efficiency and power density. A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device which directly converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are preferred due to low operation temperature, rapid start-up, low-weight and longer operating life. Therefore PEMFCs are generally used in automotive and stationary power applications. The membrane is solid polymer electrolyte, which is bonded to catalyzed porous electrodes (anode and cathode) placed on each side. Both anode and cathode are usually composed of a Pt-containing catalyst on conductive carbon. The cost of electrodes is an important barrier to widespread commercialization. The high cost of the electrodes is mostly due to the expensive platinum based catalysts. In this Project, core-shell nanoparticles are used to develop low-cost electrodes. These electrodes replace the expensive platinum ones. Some of transition metals which are nickel, cobalt and copper are used as core and platinum used as a shell. Core-shell nanoparticles are synthesized with borohyride reduction mechanism. In this study Ni-Pt core-shell nanoparticles sub 10 nm are aimed to synthesize. Core-shell nanoparticles are evaluated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), rotating disk electrode (RDE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and performance test.