Characterization of the electrocatalytic activity of carbon-supported platinum-based catalysts by thermal gravimetric analysis

Investigations of carbon-supported Pt, Pt₃Co, and Pt₃Ni electrocatalysts using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) in combination with electrochemical measurements of the membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells have demonstrated that the onset temperature of the carbon support thermal oxidation and apparent activation energy of this reaction decrease in the following orders: Pt(20%)/C > Pt(35%)/C > Pt(46%)/C and Pt₃Ni/C > Pt₃Co/C > Pt/C, while MEA power density increases. Thus, TGA can be used as a simple and express technique for analysis of the electrocatalytic activity of carbon-supported Pt-based catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.