Extent of PEMFC Cathode Surface Oxidation by Oxygen and Water Measured by CV

Abstract
The influence of gas-phase oxygen on platinum surface oxidation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathodes was investigated. Catalyst layers were exposed to 4, 21, and 100% for a fixed time at and The extent of surface oxidation was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The extent of Pt surface oxidation increased relative to the corresponding potential hold at The extent of oxidation was directly proportional to oxygen concentration, and increased with time exposed to the oxygen-containing gas. Pt surface oxidation was not influenced by gas-phase concentration at © 2004 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.