Oxygen reduction reaction activity of platinum nanoparticles on ion-irradiated glassy carbon substrate

Kimata, Tetsuya*; Kato, Sho*; Yamaki, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Shunya; Hakoda, Teruyuki; Kobayashi, Tomohiro*; Terai, Takayuki*

There have been intensive studies in the development of platinum (Pt) nanoparticle catalyst with high electrocatalytic activity and durability for fuel cell applications. We prepared the Pt nanoparticles on a glassy carbon (GC) substrate irradiated with 380 keV Ar, and then analyzed their electrocatalytic properties by a rotating disk electrode method. The Pt nanoparticles exhibited higher oxygen reduction reaction activity on the irradiated GC substrate than on the non-irradiated one. This suggests that the Ar-ion-induced modification of GC would improve the electrocatalytic properties of the deposited Pt nanoparticles.