Using fullerène as catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel-cells

KROSNICKI, Guillaume (2011) Using fullerène as catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel-cells. Thèses de doctorat, Université de Strasbourg.

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Abstract

This work concerns the study of new fullerene-based catalysts for the cathode of fuel cell type PEMFC. The use of fullerene C60, known to be stable, as a catalyst support and the ability to bind the platinum on the fullerene can hope to improve the resistance to degradation of the active layer. As a first step, a set of type catalyst MnC60 based on platinum and / or palladium atoms bonded to C60, called metallofullerenes, were synthesized and characterized physically and chemically. In parallel, non-noble catalysts based on iron phthalocyanine deposited on fullerene have been synthesized. The performance of these catalysts were electrochemically tested on a rotating ring-disk electrode, half-cell and, for best catalysts in fuel-cell, and compared with those obtained with reference commercial catalysts on carbon black Pt/C and PtCo/C. It appears from the study that the performance of metallofullerenes depends on the stoichiometry n of MnC60 compounds and best of them exhibit performance similar or even superior to those obtained with the reference catalysts. Non-noble catalysts on fullerene can obtain performance similar to those obtained with non-noble catalysts on carbon black. In addition, an initial study of metallofullerenes aging shows these compounds have a carbon corrosion resistance similar to reference catalysts.

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