Ultrathin (< 1-�m in thickness) ordered porous platinum (Pt-OP) electrodes have been prepared and analyzed for electrochemical durability and electrocatalytic activity.  These Pt-OP electrodes were developed using a modular sacrificial template method, producing electrodes with a periodically ordered morphology with fine control over electrode thickness.  Ordered porous structures have the potential to improve mass transport and water management properties over conventional disordered catalyst layers, such as for oxygen reduction (ORR) at the cathode of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.  The high periodicity of the Pt-OP electrodes also makes them suitable for comparison to theoretical models of porous catalyst layers.  This presentation will focus on the preparation and characterization of Pt-OP electrodes of varying thickness, ranging from a non-porous half-pore morphology to thicker 3-dimensional porous structures, supported on rotating disk electrodes.  The electrochemical stability of these materials was analyzed using an accelerated durability test and their morphology and surface chemistry monitored using cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and CO stripping voltammetry.  Electrocatalytic activity towards ORR and methanol oxidation was evaluated, before and after the accelerated durability test, for all samples.  This analysis allowed us to evaluate the effect of porosity and electrode thickness on electrocatalytic activity and electrochemical durability.  The extensive characterization of the Pt-OP electrodes by electrochemical and material science techniques presented here provides valuable insight for the application of ordered porous materials in electrocatalysis.

Ultrathin ordered porous platinum electrodes for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation

247th National Meeting (2014)

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