Ultralow Pt loading on CVD graphene for acid electrolytes and PEM fuel cells

Continuous-phase, porous graphene was produced by CVD process and tested for suitability as catalyst and catalyst support for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. N-doping of CVD graphene was carried by NH₃ gas flown over graphene for a given time. Ultralow Pt was sputter deposited onto porous, continuous phase N-doped graphene. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity by Rotating Disc Electrode (RDE) in 0,1 M HClO₄ electrolyte and PEM fuel cell performance were measured. N-doping and thicker Pt sputtering increases reduction current in RDE measurements. Sputter deposition of 1 nm and 10 nm Pt on CVD graphene (2.1 and 21.45 μgPt/cm² loading) has shown orders of magnitude increase in current compare to only-graphene samples. In fuel cell testing, sputter deposited Pt layer of 10 nm has provided 2.5 A/mgPt at 0.5 V polarization while 1 nm samples shows 15 A/mgPt performance at the same voltage.