Highly developed nanostructuring of polymer-electrolyte membrane supported catalysts for hydrogen fuel cell application

Abstract Treatment of polymer-electrolyte membrane with magnetron sputtering of CeO2 in Ar + O2 atmosphere creates a highly developed surface with an array of nanopillars and vertical pores. These superstructures can be used as a support for the catalyst layer homogeneously covering the surface by nanoclusters. Treated membranes with nanostructured catalyst layer exhibit high level of platinum utilization in hydrogen powered fuel cells reaching the power density of 15 kW g−1Pt. Moreover, due to the resistance to corrosion such systems have superior durability compared to the traditional carbon-supported catalysts.