Carbon-supported platinum nanoparticles synthesized by plasma-chemical reduction method for fuel cell applications

Carbon supported platinum nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing H2PtCl6 precursor dissolved in water containing carbon powders by a plasma-chemical method. The fast reduction of the precursor was achieved with the help of active hydrogen species generated in the plasma zone contacting the surface of the aqueous solution. The size of the Pt particles supported on the carbon was in the range of 3 to 5 nm with the solution temperature set at 5 C. The performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell employing as-prepared Pt/C as the electrocatalyst was comparable to that using commercial Pt/C catalyst. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society.