Electrodeposition of PEM fuel cell catalysts by the use of a hydrogen depolarized anode

Up to 30% of the expensive catalyst metal in conventional fuel cell catalysts is not utilized in fuel cells caused by an absence of contact to either the ion conducting, electron conducting or educt phase. This contact can be improved by in situ electrodeposition with a precursor layer which is mostly done in a galvanostatic mode in the literature. In this paper electrochemical deposition with a hydrogen depolarized anode is described and so a potentiostatic electrodeposition under the control of the working-electrode potential and dry working-electrode conditions is enabled. This potentiostatic electrodeposition with a hydrogen depolarized anode significantly increases the performance of the fuel cell.