In situ formation of platinum nanoparticles in Nafion recast film for catalyst-incorporated ion-exchange membrane in fuel cell applications

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were synthesized inside a Nafion polyelectrolyte membrane for use as a catalyst membrane integrated layer in fuel cells. The integrated membrane was prepared by making use of the cation exchange between the tetraammineplatinum (II) cations ([Pt(NH3)4]2+) and sulfonic groups in the Nafion molecules, followed by film casting and chemical reduction. The synthesized Pt nanoparticles, which had a cubic shape with diameters of 11.5–14.5 nm, dispersed in the recast Nafion film, increased its proton conductivity and open circuit voltage compared with the pristine Nafion membrane. The Pt-incorporated membrane provided a 29% increment of the maximum power density, seemingly by oxidizing the crossover methanol passing through the proton-exchange membrane. At a high loading of Pt (over 3 wt.% in this study), the Nafion clusters were likely squeezed by the synthesized Pt nanoparticles so as to decrease the water uptake and proton conductivity. This hypothesis was also supported by the increased Ohmic resistance in the I–V polarization curve.