Preparation of platinum nanoparticle catalysts using ion-beam-induced lattice defects in carbon supports, 1; Oxygen reduction reaction activity

Kakitani, Kenta*; Kimata, Tetsuya*; Yamaki, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Shunya; Terai, Takayuki*; Kobayashi, Tomohiro*

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity have been required for applications to polymer electrolyte fuel cells. We prepared the Pt nanoparticles on a glassy carbon (GC) substrate irradiated with 380 keV Ar to tune the electronic structure of Pt nanoparticles and enhance the ORR activity. Rotating disk electrode measurements demonstrated that the Pt nanoparticles exhibited 2.5 times higher current density on the irradiated GC substrate than on the non-irradiated one. This improvement of the activity could be attributed to the formation of Pt-C bonding at the Pt/GC interface.