Advantages of Bimetallic Electrocatalysts for Cathodes in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Production of highly efficient platinum-containing catalysts for PEMFC cathode is an urgent task for the development of hydrogen energy. Fifteen bimetallic catalysts for the ORR were synthesized by various modified borohydride synthesis methods using de-alloying treatment. Of these, 33.3% PtNi/C and 33.3% PtCu/C materials were subjected to acid treatment, 13.3% PtNi/C and 20% PtCu/C were subjected to electrochemical leaching. A comprehensive assessment of the composition and structure of the catalysts was carried out using TEM, STEM, XRD, TXRF, and EDX methods. The electrochemical behavior of the materials was estimated by cyclic and linear voltammetry. The resulting bimetallic catalysts exceed the commercial Pt/C analogue in the ORR mass activity by 1.2–4.3 times. Most of the studied PtM/C catalysts (66.6%) exceed the DOE target 2025 (440 A/gPt). According to the results of the study, PtCu/C catalysts, subjected to electrochemical de-alloying, are considered promising for use in PEMFC MEA.