title: Enhancement of platinum mass activity on the surface of polymer-wrapped carbon nanotube-based fuel cell electrocatalysts.
abstract: Cost reduction and improved durability are the two major targets for accelerating the commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). To achieve these goals, the development of a novel method to fabricate platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts with a high mass activity, deposited on durable conductive support materials, is necessary. In this study, we describe a facile approach to grow homogeneously dispersed Pt nanoparticles (Pt) with a narrow diameter distribution in a highly controllable fashion on polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A PEFC cell employing a composite with the smallest Pt nanoparticle size (2.3 nm diameter) exhibited a ~8 times higher mass activity compared to a cell containing Pt with a 3.7 nm diameter. This is the first example of the diamter control of Pt on polymer-wrapped carbon supporting materials, and the study opens the door for the development of a future-generation of PEFCs using a minimal amount of Pt.
authors.affiliation: 1] International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan [2] Department of Natural resources and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22516, Egypt.
authors.forename: Inas H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hafez
authors.affiliation: 1] International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan [2] Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Berber
authors.affiliation: 1] International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan [2] Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujigaya
authors.affiliation: 1] International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan [2] Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan [3] JST-CREST, 5 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0075, Japan.
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakashima