Performance and degradation analysis of sputter deposited thin-film platinum cathodes in PEM water electrolyzers analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F25%3A10510450" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/25:10510450 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=lbV-WxkQL4" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=lbV-WxkQL4</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.237947" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.237947</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Performance and degradation analysis of sputter deposited thin-film platinum cathodes in PEM water electrolyzers analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Original language description
Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers (PEM-WEs) are a key technology for green hydrogen production, however their large-scale deployment has been hindered by the reliance on noble metal catalysts, such as platinum (Pt) and iridium (Ir). In this study, we present a fully dry and scalable approach for fabricating ultra-low platinum-loaded cathodes for PEM-WE using only magnetron sputtering. The process involves a two-step approach: sputter-etching pre-treatment of the PEM surface to increase the catalyst dispersion and active surface area, followed by direct sputtering of Pt. We systematically investigate Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) with Pt loadings ranging from around 3.7 mu gPt cm-2 to 480 mu gPt cm-2, achieving significant performance improvement over the commercial electrodes, while reducing the Pt loading to half. Moreover, MEAs with Pt loadings around 20 mu g cm-2 exhibited excellent initial performance of approximately 2500 mA cm-2, but their stability proved to be a critical challenge. Comprehensive Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) reveals key degradation mechanisms in Pt thin films, including insufficient lateral conductivity and catalyst detachment. This work provides valuable insights into the optimization of sputtered low-loading catalysts for the cathode of PEM-WE, and the analysis of the degradation pathways opens up a possibility to further stabilize the ultra-low catalyst loadings.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10305 - Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/EH22_008%2F0004617" target="_blank" >EH22_008/0004617: Energy conversion and storage</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Journal of Power Sources
ISSN
0378-7753
e-ISSN
1873-2755
Volume of the periodical
655
Issue of the periodical within the volume
Nov
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
10
Pages from-to
237947
UT code for WoS article
001542160600001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105011607153