Synthesis of Electrospun Carbon Nanofiber/WO3 Supported Pt, Pt/Pd and Pt/Ru Catalysts for Fuel Cells

In the present study, nano-sized Pt/WO3-carbon nanofiber, Pt-Pd/WO3-carbon nanofiber and Pt-Ru/WO3-carbon nanofiber electrocatalysts were synthesized and the performance of prepared catalysts were compared with catalysts coated carbon black for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The morphology and structure of prepared catalysts were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The SEM images showed that the catalyst nanoparticles were well dispersed on the both carbon nanofiber and carbon black supports. Electrochemical measurements including linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) tests were applied to investigate the potential of the fabricated electrodes on the ORR. The results demonstrated that the catalysts based on carbon nanofibers showed a significant increase of activity toward the ORR. Also, the Pt/Pd coated carbon nanofibrous electrode showed the highest electrochemical activity.