Recent advances in activity and durability enhancement of Pt/C catalytic cathode in PEMFC

Carbon-supported platinum or platinum alloys are generally used as the cathodic electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Main challenges to be addressed in this area are the high electrochemical activity and high stability maintenance for low-Pt-loading catalysts toward the feasibility for fuel cell operation and the reduction of the system cost. The interaction of Pt with carbon support, as well as the interaction of Pt precursor with carbon during the supported catalyst formation, are considered to be beneficial to the improvement of catalytic activity and durability of the electrocatalysts. This paper provides a review of recent advances related to the physico-chemical and electronic interactions at the catalyst–support interface and the catalyst activity enhancement through improved Pt–C interaction, especially focusing on the surface modification of the carbon support to form proper functional groups and chemical links at the Pt/C interface.