(Digital Presentation) The Utilization of Platinum Catalysts Deposited on Carbon Support Synthesized from Coffee Grounds in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Simson Sander , Nerut Jaak , Härmas Meelis , Valk Peeter , Teppor Patrick , Palm Rasmus , Koppel Miriam , Aruväli Jaan , Korjus Ove , Volobujeva Olga , Månsson Martin , Lust Enn 
Published: September 2023

Exploring alternative sources for platinum catalyst carbon support material is vital for the further development of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).1 The support material and the method of depositing Pt nanoparticles are crucial for defining the catalytic properties of the catalyst. In this study, carbon support material, derived from coffee grounds was used in the preparation of Pt catalysts for PEMFC application. The carbon material was synthesized using ZnCl2 activated pyrolysis method2 and the Pt nanoparticles were deposited onto carbon support by two methods: using ethylene glycol3 or hydrogen4 as a reducing agent.

The physical properties of the support material, as well as catalysts were analysed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 sorption analysis and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) methods. The electrochemical activity, as well as the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the catalysts were determined in a completed PEMFC. The properties and performance of catalysts synthesised were compared with the catalyst which was deposited onto commercial carbon (Ketjenblack, EC-300J).

TGA displayed that carbon derived from coffee grounds contained 6.9 % of impurities by mass in the form of metal oxides and that the coffee carbon Pt catalyst contained 60 wt% of Pt. The Pt crystallite size was determined through XRD and it was 1.4 nm. HR-SEM analysis displayed that the average particle size of Pt nanoparticles on the coffee carbon catalyst was 4.7±2.5 nm. Results from N2 sorption analysis showed that all materials were micro-mesoporous, with coffee ground carbon having a specific surface area of 590 m2 g-1. The coffee carbon Pt catalyst produced smaller results of 370 m2 g-1 compared to the carbon support, due to the Pt nanoparticles depositing in the micropores, however still had a larger specific surface area than the commercial carbon catalyst with a specific surface area of 300 m2 g-1.

Catalysts deposited on coffee ground carbon produced comparable electrochemical results to catalysts deposited on commercially available carbon. The coffee carbon catalyst produced a higher ECSA of 64 mPt
2 gPt
-1, compared to the commercial carbon catalyst with an ECSA of 51 mPt
2 gPt
-1. The current density of the Pt catalyst deposited onto coffee carbon was 0.68 A cm-2 at 670 mV, whilst in the same conditions commercial carbon peaked at 0.70 A cm-2. Both coffee and commercial carbon Pt catalysts produced similar power density maximums with the coffee Pt catalyst producing 0.56 W cm-2 and the commercial Pt catalyst producing 0.60 W cm-2.

Physical and electrochemical characterizations displayed that higher ECSA values were strongly correlated to smaller Pt crystallite size. Other techniques to increase fuel cell performance were also experimented with, such as covering the gas diffusion layer with catalyst instead of Nafion membrane and adding additional Nafion layers, with both methods producing promising results.

This study displays that there is a lot of potential in improving the catalytic performance of Pt catalysts by depositing on support materials derived from alternative sources. The methods of boosting PEMFC performance could be further investigated for catalysts deposited on different carbon supports.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund TK141 “Advanced materials and high-technology devices for energy recuperation systems” (2014-2020.4.01.15-0011), Personal Research Grant PRG676 and by private limited company AuVe Tech LLTKT20148 “Production of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells”. The SEM measurements were conducted using the NAMUR+ core facility funded by the Estonian Research Council (TT 13).

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