Low surface area carbon black as PEMFC catalyst support: heat treatment effect on the physical and electrocatalytic properties

The low surface area carbon black (Regal 330) underwent heat treatment in a nitrogen environment at varying temperatures (1000, 1200, 1400, and 1500 °C). Both original and heat-treated Regal carbon blacks served as support material for the platinum (Pt) catalyst in the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Comprehensive physical and chemical characterizations of carbon blacks and Pt catalysts were performed using BET, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS (C 1s), ICP-MS, zeta potential, contact angle, and 3D topography analyses. The catalysts were characterized electrochemically using a three-electrode system and a PEM fuel cell testing station. For the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the Pt/R-14 showed a limiting diffusion current density of 2.827 mA cm⁻² (@1600 rpm). The PEM fuel cell testing station yields the best results with the same catalyst. At 0.6 V and 0.1 V retention potentials, Pt/R-14’s current and power density values (@0.6 V) were 537.0 mA cm⁻² and 321.1 mW cm⁻² and 642.6 mA cm⁻² and 384.3 mW cm⁻², respectively. The results of heat-treated Regal carbon blacks were superior to those of the original case. This study uniquely applies Regal carbon black and its heat-treated forms to a PEM fuel cell as catalyst support material.