Performance of a DMFC with a Sputtered Pt Layer on the Electrode/Electrolyte Interface of the Anode

The effect of a nanoscale Pt layer added to the electrode/electrolyte (Nafion) interface of the anode by sputter deposition in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was investigated. Pt was sputtered onto either the Nafion membrane or the carbon-supported catalyst layer (CSCL) at various thicknesses from 2 to 30 nm. The sputtered Pt layer on the anode CSCL significantly enhanced the cell performance, whereas that on the Nafion membrane reduced the performance due to an increase in the ohmic resistance. In the case of Pt sputtering on the CSCL, the power output of a single cell increased by 25-34% at 353 K, even with such a small addition of the Pt catalyst in the proportion of 0.3-1.5 wt %. The best cell performance of was achieved at 363 K under ambient pressure. The high utilization efficiency of the Pt catalyst fabricated by sputtering at the electrode/electrolyte interface also guaranteed that this method can activate the electrode as well as minimize catalyst loading in the DMFCs.