Effect of mechanical vibration on platinum particle agglomeration and growth in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell catalyst layers

The effect of mechanical vibration on Platinum (Pt) particle agglomeration and growth in the catalyst layer of a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was investigated. A series of experiments were conducted using a 300-h accelerated test with potential cycling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Each of the 300-h accelerated tests used different constant mechanical vibration conditions (frequency and acceleration). It was observed that the average diameter of Pt particles under vibration is 10% smaller than the ones that were under no vibration conditions. The Pt particles in the order of 2-2.5 nm in the pristine state have grown to approximately 6 nm (after 300-h accelerated test without vibration condition) and to approximately 5.47 nm (after 300 h accelerated test under 1 g 20 Hz vibration condition). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.