Fabrication and Characterization of Pt-Pr6O11 Nano Cathode Electrode for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells via Co-Sputtering Method

In this study, the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were improved using a Pt-Pr6O11 composite electrode fabricated through a co-sputtering technique. Platinum (Pt), widely used as the catalyst material in PEMFCs, often faces stability issues under various electrical load conditions. These issues require greater efforts to enhance PEMFC durability. Various approaches, including replacement of catalyst supports with electrically stable materials (such as metal oxides) or adoption of core-shell and alloy structures to stabilize Pt, have been attempted. In this research, a thin film electrode combining Pr6O11 and Pt was fabricated. Pr6O11, a lanthanide oxide, enhances the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) through strong interactions with Pt, and its multi-valence state contributes to improved durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to analyze the composition, morphology, and chemical characteristics of the electrodes. I-V curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EIS) were measured to evaluate electrochemical properties of fuel cells. A cyclic voltammetry (CV) test was conducted to calculate the electrochemical surface area of the cell. As a result, the incorporation of Pr6O11 improved the pristine cell performance by 7.6% and increased performance after degradation testing by 121% compared to Pt-only cases. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the Pt-Pr6O11 composite in enhancing both the initial performance and the durability of PEMFCs.