Synthesis of nanostructural electrocatalytic materials on various carbon substrates by ion plasma sputtering of platinum metals

Carbon-supported platinum electrocatalysts for electrochemical systems with a proton-exchange membrane were prepared by ion plasma sputtering in a DC magnetron sputtering unit. Vulcan XC-72, carbon nanotubes, and nanofibers were used as substrates. The starting substrates were occasionally subjected to preliminary chemical treatment or metallization. The synthesized electrocatalyst samples were analyzed by thermogravimetric, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescent analysis, scanning and transmission microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical activity of the synthesized Pt/C and Pt-Pd/C materials was studied in a fuel cell, water electrolyzer, and bifunctional fuel cell with a solid polymer electrolyte. Several samples were found to have high specific surface areas (up to 44 m²/g), chemical purity, and electrochemical activity. The qualitative dependences of the characteristics of the catalysts on the parameters of metal deposition and the properties of the starting substrate were found.