Anodic Performance of the Pt Catalyst Supported on CeO₂ with a Scavenging Effect in a Wide Temperature Range up to 120 °C for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

The scavenging effect to mitigate the membrane degradation by H2O2 is confirmed by the newly developed Pt catalyst supported on M-CeO2 [Pt/M-CeO2 (M = Gd, Zr)]. The production of H2O2 via a two-electron pathway of the oxygen reduction reaction is reduced to less than half that of Pt/CB. The Ce3+ on the M-CeO2 (M = Gd, Zr) surrounded on the Pt catalyst may play a role in the generation of the scavenging effect. The single cell using a thinner Gore-Select membrane and a Pt/Zr-CeO2 anode operates for longer periods at high temperatures (120 °C), while maintaining low resistive overpotential and low crossover current compared to those using commercial Pt catalyst supported on the carbon black (Pt/CB) anode. We consider that the application of the newly functionalized Pt/Zr-CeO2 anode would help realize heavy-duty vehicles equipped with polymer electrolyte fuel cells.