ORR and Fuel Cell Performance of Pt Supported on N-Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon

Abstract

Nitrogen functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon (NOMC) was synthesized and decorated with Pt nanoparticles using a modified polyol process. After characterizing porosity and surface chemistry, their activity towards oxygen reduction reaction was studied using a thin-film rotating disk electrode and as a cathode in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. In both tests, lower specific activity but higher mass-specific activities were found for Pt/NOMC compared to Pt/Vulcan carbon.