Evaluation of carbon-capped PtNi nanoparticles supported on graphitized carbon black – from rotating disk electrode to unit proton exchange membrane fuel cell operated at 95 °C
Abstract
Carbon-capped PtNi catalysts supported on a graphitized carbon black (PtNi@C/Gr.C) were elaborated, characterized and implemented in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for tests in differential cell configuration. Two types of carbon-capped catalysts were evaluated: one activated electrochemically via operando cycling within the cell, and the other chemically, using nitric acid prior to MEA fabrication and cell integration. These materials were benchmarked versus a robust graphitized carbon black-supported Pt reference catalyst (Pt/Gr.C). The initial performance of the two PtNi@C/Gr.C catalysts exceeds that of Pt/Gr.C in RDE and unit proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), especially under hot and dry conditions (95 °C and 30 % RH, mimicking heavy-duty PEMFC operation), likely due to the alloying effect of Ni which translates into higher surface tension and their (electro)chemical activation. A 30,000-cycle accelerated stress test performed at 95 °C between 0.6 and 0.85 V was applied to these catalysts, and no significant performance degradation was observed at end-of-life, confirming the successful integration of acid-treated carbon-capped PtNi catalyst in a small single PEMFC. The present carbon-capping and Ni-alloying methodology therefore enables to improve the ORR activity of Pt/Gr.C without compromising the stability of this inherently-stable catalyst, an endeavor towards heavy-duty PEMFC applications.
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BibTeX
@article{labarde2026evaluation,
title = {{Evaluation of carbon-capped PtNi nanoparticles supported on graphitized carbon black – from rotating disk electrode to unit proton exchange membrane fuel cell operated at 95 °C}},
author = {Quentin Labarde and Clémence Marty and Thomas Gaumont and Vincent Martin and Julien Gallet and Julien Giboz and Frédéric Maillard and Laetitia Dubau and Fabrice Micoud and Marian Chatenet},
journal = {Electrochimica Acta},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146910},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05265307v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluation of carbon-capped PtNi nanoparticles supported on graphitized carbon black – from rotating disk electrode to unit proton exchange membrane fuel cell operated at 95 °C
AU - Quentin Labarde
AU - Clémence Marty
AU - Thomas Gaumont
AU - Vincent Martin
AU - Julien Gallet
AU - Julien Giboz
AU - Frédéric Maillard
AU - Laetitia Dubau
AU - Fabrice Micoud
AU - Marian Chatenet
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Electrochimica Acta
DO - 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146910
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05265307v1
AB - Carbon-capped PtNi catalysts supported on a graphitized carbon black (PtNi@C/Gr.C) were elaborated, characterized and implemented in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for tests in differential cell configuration. Two types of carbon-capped catalysts were evaluated: one activated electrochemically via operando cycling within the cell, and the other chemically, using nitric acid prior to MEA fabrication and cell integration. These materials were benchmarked versus a robust graphitized carbon black-supported Pt reference catalyst (Pt/Gr.C). The initial performance of the two PtNi@C/Gr.C catalysts exceeds that of Pt/Gr.C in RDE and unit proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), especially under hot and dry conditions (95 °C and 30 % RH, mimicking heavy-duty PEMFC operation), likely due to the alloying effect of Ni which translates into higher surface tension and their (electro)chemical activation. A 30,000-cycle accelerated stress test performed at 95 °C between 0.6 and 0.85 V was applied to these catalysts, and no significant performance degradation was observed at end-of-life, confirming the successful integration of acid-treated carbon-capped PtNi catalyst in a small single PEMFC. The present carbon-capping and Ni-alloying methodology therefore enables to improve the ORR activity of Pt/Gr.C without compromising the stability of this inherently-stable catalyst, an endeavor towards heavy-duty PEMFC applications.
SN - 0013-4686
ER -