Electrochemical Characterization of Metal Nanoparticles Electrodes as Fuel-cell Catalysts Prepared by using Various Solvents

The crystalline sizes and loading efficiencies of metallic nanoparticles for fuel cell catalysts have been measured by changing solvent species. By changing solvent species containing carbon particles and metal salt precursors, the microstructure and the relating electrochemical property of catalysts could be controlled. Pt catalyst prepared by using EG solution showed the highest deposition efficiency, 85% and smallest crystalline size, 2.85 nm of catalysts, resulting a high activity. In the result, the electrochemical performance of catalysts was dependent on the crystalline size and deposition efficiency of catalysts with changing solvents.