Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Single Cells Prepared Using Hierarchical Microporous-Mesoporous Carbon Supported Pt Nanoparticles Activated Catalysts

Highlights: • Carbon supports were prepared from Mo₂C using chlorination method. • The mesopore volume of the carbon influences the power density values of PEMFC. • Prepared PEMFCs demonstrated high efficiency and good durability. • Material synthesized from Mo₂C at 750 °C was found to be the best cathode support. - Abstract: Hierarchical microporous-mesoporous carbon supports were prepared from molybdenum carbide using the high temperature chlorination method at six different synthesis temperatures within the range from 600 °C to 1000 °C. The platinum nanoparticles were deposited onto the carbon support using the sodium borohydride method. Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, low temperature nitrogen sorption and high resolution transmission electron microscopy methods were used to characterize the structure of materials. The synthesized catalysts were used as cathodes in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) single cell measurements. The polarization and power density curves were used to evaluate the activity of the materials synthesized. The electrochemically active surface area has been obtained in order to estimate the contact surface areas of platinum and Nafion^® electrolyte. The values of the electrolyte resistance, polarization resistance and the activation energy were calculated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data. The carbon support material synthesized at 750 °C was found to be the best for PEMFC cathode.