Using Pt sols to prepare low Pt-loading electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Novel platinum electrodes with controllable platinum loadings are prepared by direct deposition of platinum sols prepared with citrate and methanol. No extra treatment is needed except the evaporation of solvent. The platinum particles maintain a size similar to that of the original sols, as indicated by XRD data. The platinum-deposited membrane shows high specific activity and comparable single-cell performance with electrodes prepared from Pt/C catalysts. This electrode preparation method has the advantages of easy preparation and a good control for lowering the platinum-loading.