Insights on the SO2 Poisoning of Pt3Co/VC and Pt/VC Fuel Cell Catalysts

Abstract

SO2 poisoning of carbon-supported Pt3Co (Pt3Co/VC) catalyst is performed at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs)in order to link previously reported results at the elec- trode/solution interface to the FC environment. First, the surface area of Pt3Co/VC catalyst is rigorously characterized by hydrogen adsorption,CO stripping voltammetry and under potential deposition(upd) of copper adatoms.Then the performance of PEMFC cathodes employing 30wt.%Pt3Co/VC and 50wt.%Pt/VC catalysts is compared after exposure to 1ppmSO2 in air for 3 h at constant cell voltage of 0.6V.In agreement with results reported for the electrode/solution interface,thePt3Co/VC is more susceptive to SO2 poisoning than Pt/VC at a given platinum loading. Both catalysts can be recovered from adsorbed sulfur species by running successive polarization curves in air or cyclic voltammetry (CV)in inert atmosphere.However,the activity of Pt3Co/VC having ∼3 times higher sulfur coverage is recovered more easily than Pt/VC.To understand the difference between the two catalysts in terms of activity recovery,platinum?sulfur interaction is probed by thermal programmed desorption at the catalyst/inert gas interface and CV at the electrode/solution interface and in the FC environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA524034

Entities

People

  • Benjamin D. Gould
  • Karen E Swider-Lyons
  • Olga Baturina
  • Yannick Garsany

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adsorption
  • Agreements
  • Atmospheres
  • Catalysts
  • Cells
  • Controlled Atmospheres
  • Current Density
  • Density Functional Theory
  • Desorption
  • Electrochemical Cells
  • Electrodes
  • Environment
  • Fuel Cells
  • Measurement
  • Particle Size
  • Poisoning
  • Voltammetry

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Forest Ecology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology