| AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Energy Frontiers Topical Conference | Thursday Sessions |
| Session EN+AS-ThM |
| Session: | Surface and Interface Analysis of Materials for Energy |
| Presenter: | S. Pylypenko, Colorado School of Mines, National Renewable Energy Lab |
| Authors: | S. Pylypenko, Colorado School of Mines, National Renewable Energy Lab A. Dameron, National Renewable Energy Lab T. Olson, National Renewable Energy Lab K.C. Neyerlin, National Renewable Energy Lab J. Bult, National Renewable Energy Lab C. Engtrakul, National Renewable Energy Lab A. Queen, Colorado School of Mines K. O'Neill, National Renewable Energy Lab T. Gennett, National Renewable Energy Lab H.N. Dinh, National Renewable Energy Lab B. Pivovar, National Renewable Energy Lab R.P. O'Hayre, Colorado School of Mines |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Catalyst-support interactions are essential in the design of materials for a variety of applications related to renewable energy technologies. In the fuel cell field, improved understanding of these interactions enables controlled improvement in the catalytic activity and durability of carbon-supported fuel cell electrocatalysts. Carbon surface chemistry and structure can be altered to achieve a desired coverage, morphology and composition of the metal nanophase. For example, doping a model HOPG surface with argon or nitrogen results in structural and chemical modification of its surface that leads to improved dispersion, decreased nanoparticle phase and, at certain conditions, enhanced stability. In this work, the role of surface defects, oxygen and nitrogen groups introduced during doping and their effect on electrocatalyst deposition and performance is evaluated through a combination of spectroscopic (XPS, Raman, EELS) and microscopic (SEM, TEM) methods. The same methods are used to evaluate the effect of various surface modifications (via Ar plasma, O2 plasma and their mixture, HNO3, TMA functionalization, etc.) on high surface area carbon materials (CNTs, for instance) and their effect on nucleation and growth of Pt in a controlled nanoparticle or continuous coating phase.