6533b859fe1ef96bd12b7346

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Porous thin films obtained by DLI-CVD as mu-PEMFC catalysts to replace platinum

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This work is focused on development of growth protocols by direct liquid injection chemical vapor deposition (DLI-CVD) of catalytic porous films which could be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The aim of this work was to reduce or even proscribe platinum in catalysts having large specific surface area i.e. being very porous. Besides, the aim is also to use mainly low cost precursors.Cerium oxide, which is a material widely used as catalyst, has been chosen to partially substitute platinum. Porous CeO2 layers were obtained by the optimization of processing parameters such as deposition temperature or precursors flow rates. Controlled platinum doping of cerium oxide surface has been obtained from deposition of ceria and platinum at the same time. The platinum precursor flow rate has allowed adjusting the load and the oxidation state of Pt in films without changing their porosity. For example, it was possible to synthesize thin cerium oxide films composed of surface Pt doped nanoparticles. In such a case, the Pt content is 5% in top most layers and its oxidation state is +II. The effect of precursor flow rate on the platinum oxidation state was confirmed from the study of the Pt / TiO2 system. Finally, platinum has been fully replaced by tungsten oxycarbide. A two steps process has been developed to obtain porous oxycarbide layers by depositing a conformed tungsten oxycarbide ultra-thin film on a porous tungsten oxide layer.