Pt–CeO₂ Coating of Carbon Nanotubes Grown on Anode Gas Diffusion Layer of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

The growing of carbon nanotubes on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) was investigated using electron microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy. The 30 nm thick Pt doped CeO₂ layers were deposited by (rf) magnetron sputtering using a CeO₂–Pt target on a carbon diffusion layer overgrown by carbon nanotubes. The anode prepared in such a way was tested in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Hydrogen/air fuel cell activity measurements normalized to the amount of used Pt revealed high specific power (W mg^–1 Pt). The high activity of this anode with CNT-grown is explained by high specific area of the catalyst, high conductivity of CNT–GDL junction and high activity of platinum present in cationic state Pt^2,4+. Very high specific power and low cost together with physical vapor deposition of catalyst makes this anode preparation promising for micro fabrication of fuel cells to power mobile systems.