title: Sonoelectrochemical one-pot synthesis of Pt - Carbon black nanocomposite PEMFC electrocatalyst.
abstract: Simultaneous electrocatalytic Pt-nanoparticle synthesis and decoration of Vulcan XC-72 carbon black substrate was achieved in a novel one-step-process, combining galvanostatic pulsed electrodeposition and pulsed ultrasonication with high power, low-frequency (20kHz) ultrasound. Aqueous chloroplatinic acid precursor baths, as well as carbon black suspensions in the former, were examined and decoration was proven by a combination of characterization methods, namely: dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with EDX-analysis and cyclic voltammetry. In particular, PVP was shown to have a beneficial stabilizing effect against free nanoparticle aggregation, ensuring narrow size distributions of the nanoparticles synthesized, but is also postulated to prevent the establishment of a strong metal-substrate interaction. Current pulse amplitude was identified as the most critical nanoparticle size-determining parameters, while only small size particles, under 10nm, appeared to be attached to carbon black.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Scientific Research, Demokritos, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, P.O. Box 60228, 153 10, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dionysios S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Karousos
authors.affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Zografou Campus, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., 15773 Zografou-Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kostantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Desdenakis
authors.affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Zografou Campus, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., 15773 Zografou-Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Petros M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sakkas
authors.affiliation: Institut für Energieforschung und Physikalische Technologien, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 4, 38678 Clausthal-Zell., Germany; Clausthaler Zentrum für Materialforschung (CZM), Agricola Str. 2, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sourkouni
authors.affiliation: South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC), Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bruno G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pollet
authors.affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Zografou Campus, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., 15773 Zografou-Athens, Greece; Institut für Energieforschung und Physikalische Technologien, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 4, 38678 Clausthal-Zell., Germany; Clausthaler Zentrum für Materialforschung (CZM), Agricola Str. 2, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. Electronic address: amca@chemeng.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Argirusis
keywords: Carbon black; Decoration; Nanoparticles; PEM fuel cells; Platinum; Sonoelectrochemistry