(A) study on the development of ceria supports for improving the efficiency of platinum-based fuel cell nanocatalysts

Abstract

Recently, despite the cost issue, many researchers developed the Pt-based fuel cell catalysts renewing their catalytic activity records. However, only tuning the platinum nanocatalysts, such as alloying or controlling their shape, is not enough to commercialize the platinum-based catalysts for the fuel cell. In this dissertation, we are introducing the methods for utilizing co-catalytic functionalized supporting materials to improve the electrocatalytic properties of platinum-based catalysts. By using the ceria nanocrystals, which possess tremendous oxygen vacancies that lead to facile conversion of oxidation states of Ce, the main obstacle intermediates on the surface of Pt during each half-reactions of DMFC can be removed. This process leads to significantly higher efficiency of the fuel cell in energy production.