Enhancing the catalytic performance of Pt/C catalysts using steam-etched carbon blacks as a catalyst support Original Research Article

XC72 carbon blacks were treated using a steam-etching technique. Pt catalysts using steam-etched carbon blacks (SECBs) as supports were developed for oxygen reduction reactions in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The use of the steam-etched carbon blacks as a catalyst support can improve the dispersion uniformity of Pt nanoparticles on the surface of the support and can decrease the Pt particle size, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data. The overall catalytic performance of the catalysts using SECBs was better than that of the catalysts using non-SECBs. The mass activity of the Pt catalysts using SECBs etched for 1 h had the best catalytic performance for both the catalysts using SECBs and those using non-SECBs. In addition, the electrochemically active surface area of the Pt/SECBs significantly increased after etching. TEM results revealed that the center of the carbon black was more easily etched than the surface.