Comparison of Oxygen Adsorption and Platinum Dissolution in Acid and Alkaline Solutions Using Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Journal article, 2022

Platinum (Pt) is a widely used electrocatalyst material in fuel cells and electrolysers. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and electrolysis operate under highly acidic conditions whereas the more recently developed anion exchange membrane (AEM) processes take place under alkaline conditions. Pt dissolution and Pt oxidation during operation and varying potentials has been studied mainly for the acidic PEM and less for the alkaline AEM. This study presents a comparison of Pt dissolution and Pt oxidation in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1 M KOH using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) on Pt thin films. Physical characterisation using electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed small, yet significant differences in the Pt film surface structure, which is related to differences in measured electrochemical surface area (ECSA). The mass increase from adsorption of oxygenated species and Pt oxidation is higher in alkaline conditions compared to in acid while dissolution of Pt is similar.

Electrochemistry

Platinum

Platinum oxide growth

Electrochemical quartz-crystal microbalance

Platinum dissolution

Author

Linnéa Strandberg

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

Victor Shokhen

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Mathilde Luneau

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

Göran Lindbergh

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

C. Lagergren

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Björn Wickman

Chalmers, Physics, Chemical Physics

ChemElectroChem

2196-0216 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 22 e202200591

New fuel cell catalyst materials with nanostructured model electrodes

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2018-03927), 2019-01-01 -- 2022-12-31.

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Other Chemistry Topics

DOI

10.1002/celc.202200591

More information

Latest update

3/7/2024 9