Synthesis of advanced cathode with high activity for fuel cell by controlling the catalyst/support interface

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24350093
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional materials/Devices
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: KAKINUMA Katsuyoshi 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 教授 (60312089)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): UCHIDA Makoto 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 教授 (10526734)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 固体高分子形燃料電池 / カソード / 酸化物ナノ粒子 / 微細構造 / Pt・Pt合金 / 固/固・固/気界面 / 耐久性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are applied to the fuel cell vehicles, and residential power generation. Platinum-based catalysts supported on carbon are typical cathode catalysts for PEFCs, but the degradation of the carbon support in the high potential region is a problem to be solved to apply for the fuel cell vehicles. We invented the new tin oxide nanoparticle supports with "fused-aggregated network structure" as candidate supports for high durable cathode catalysts by the flame combustion method. We also controlled the Pt/support (solid /solid) interface and Pt/gas (solid/gas) interface by sintering procedure, and evaluated the electronic conductivity, electrochemical properties and durability of Pt or Pt alloy catalyst. We found that the Pt alloy catalysts supported on the oxide nanoparticle support showed the 2.5 times higher oxygen reduction reaction activity and several hundred times durability compared with commercial Pt catalyst supported on the carbon catalyst.

Free Research Field

固体化学　電気化学