Performance and degradation analysis of sputter deposited thin-film platinum cathodes in PEM water electrolyzers analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Performance and degradation analysis of sputter deposited thin-film platinum cathodes in PEM water electrolyzers analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Performance and degradation analysis of sputter deposited thin-film platinum cathodes in PEM water electrolyzers analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

10305 - Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/EH22_008%2F0004617" target="_blank" >EH22_008/0004617: Konverze a skladování energie</a><br>

Návaznosti

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

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Journal of Power Sources

ISSN

0378-7753

e-ISSN

1873-2755

Svazek periodika

655

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

Nov

Stát vydavatele periodika

NL - Nizozemsko

Počet stran výsledku

10

Strana od-do

237947

Kód UT WoS článku

001542160600001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105011607153