Electrodeposition of Pt/CeO2 as Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenger for Chemical Degradation Mitigation of Nafion® in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

In this study, Pt/CeO2 electrocatalysts were prepared on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (Pt/CeO2/MWCNT) by an electrochemical deposition process for reducing Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fuel cells to CeO2 as free radical scavengers minimizes the degradation of Nafion. First, CeO2 is electrodeposited on treated MWCNTs in the optimum deposition conditions. Then, the Pt nanoparticle is electrochemically deposited on CeO2/MWCNT electrode by applying a constant potential via chronoamperometry method. The electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The activity of deposited electrocatalyst was tested in acidic solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Further, accelerated Nafion membrane durability investigated in ex-situ Fenton tests with and without Pt/CeO2/MWCNT electrocatalyst.