Highly Active, Corrosion-Resistant Cathode for Fuel Cells, Based on Platinum and Molybdenum Carbide

Considering the need for alternative and efficient energy sources, fuel cells might possibly be a viable and cost-effective solution. One of the more acute setbacks in the commercial distribution and utilization of this technology is the lifetime of the fuel cell which is limited by the stability of the electrode. In this regard, carbon-based materials are not suitable as an electrode material.

Consequently, nano-crystallites of Mo₂C were synthesized via modified polymer-assisted deposition (mPAD) and utilized as support material for the deposition of Pt catalyst in order to be studied as a durable, corrosion-resistant ceramic-based system for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The synthesized ceramic compound was found to include no free amorphous carbon, making it potentially compatible for fuel cell electrode material. The molybdenum carbide appeared to improve both the electro-catalytic activity of Pt catalyst, showing an increase in both the mass activity, three times higher at 0.9 V vs. RHE, and in the half-wave potential by 70 mV, when compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst. As anticipated, the durability was also increased, showing 40% more resistance to chemical and physical corrosion than standard commercial Pt/C catalyst/support system.