Platinum nanocluster catalysts supported on Marimo carbonviascalable dry deposition synthesis

The development of efficient fuel cells greatly promotes reducing the consumption of fossil energy, and it is crucial to enhance the platinum (Pt) catalytic activity by optimizing both the nanoparticle size and support effect. In this study, we generate a smaller and uniform size of naked Pt nanocluster (NC) catalystsviaa dry process in the gas phase, and using the direct powder embedded trapping method, the Pt NCs arespatioselectivelysupported on Marimo carbon (MC) that comprises a high density of carbon nanofilaments. At a minimum Pt loading of 0.05 mg_Ptcm⁻²for both the anode and cathode in a single cell configuration, a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) formed by the dry-deposition Pt-NC(d)/MC exhibits superior power density (rated) of 0.105 g_PtkW⁻¹at a current density of 1.2 A cm⁻², which is better output power density than the conventional MEA formed by Pt catalystsviaa wet process. The origin of the improved performance is investigated using transmission electron microscopy; dry-deposition Pt catalysts that are monodispersely loaded on the outer surface of MC can facilitate not only the gas reaction but also leaving the generated water. The present results demonstrate that the dry deposition of Pt NCs on MC can be used as a scalable catalyst synthesis method to reduce the Pt loading.