Graphene/carbon structured catalyst layer to enhance the performance and durability of the high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In this study, nitrogen doped electrochemically exfoliated reduced graphene oxide and carbon black supported platinum(Pt/Nr EGO2-CB3) has been prepared to enhance the performance and durability of hightemperature PEMFCs with lower Pt loading. On the one hand, Pt/Nr EGO2-CB3with the strong interaction between the Pt and nitrogen(N) prevent agglomeration of Pt particles and Pt particles is 5.46 ± 1.46 nm,which is smaller than that of 6.78 ± 1.34 nm in Pt/C. Meanwhile, ECSA of Pt/Nr EGO2-CB3decrease 13.65%after AST, which is much lower than that of 97.99% in Pt/C. On the other hand, the Nr EGO flakes in MEAac act as a barrier to mitigate phosphoric acid redistribution, which improves the formation of triple-phase boundaries(TPBs) and gives stable operation of the MEAacwith a lower decay rate of 0.02 mV h-1within100 h. After steady-state operation, the maximum power density of Pt/Nr EGO2-CB3(0.411 W cm-2) is three times higher than that of conventional Pt/C(0.134 W cm-2) in high-temperature PEMFCs. After AST, the mass transfer resistance of Pt/Nr EGO2-CB3electrode(0.560 Ω cm2) is lower than that in Pt/C(0.728 Ω cm2).