Carbon Aerogels as Catalyst Supports and First Insights on Their Durability in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

To enable a large penetration of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) on the market, the durability of these systems must be improved. This work aims at evaluating the durability of carbon aerogels used as cathode catalyst support and at comparing it with the durability of a commercial electrocatalyst Tanaka Kikinzoku Group (TKK). To do so, platinum was deposited on carbon aerogel. Resulting electrocatalysts were then used to prepare 50?cm2 membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). MEAs were then submitted to an ageing protocol consisting in operating the cell under H2/N2 and in maintaining the cell potential at 1.2?V during cycles of 7?h. MEA performance was then evaluated every 7?h before the following cycle. We showed that, in our testing conditions, neither carbon aerogel nor the commercial electrocatalyst can fulfil DOE objectives in terms of durability. The lower carbon aerogel corrosion resistance as compared to that one of the commercial electrocatalyst can be explained by their low degree of graphitisation. Carbon aerogels durability could be increased thanks to a pyrolysis at higher temperatures.