Highly Mesoporous Carbon Aerogel as Catalyst Support in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Carbon aerogel possesses unique structural and electrical properties, such as high mesopore volume, large specific surface area, and high electrical conductivity, which make it suitable for use as catalyst support in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). In this study, we present a novel synthesis of highly mesoporous carbon aerogel via freeze-drying approach and investigate its application in the fuel cell. The structural effects of activation on carbon aerogel will also be discussed. The TEM and XRF, NLDFT and BJH analysis were carried out to observe the morphology and pore structure. Pt on carbon aerogel and activated carbon aerogel show efficient activity in both ORR and HOR reactions compared to Pt on Vulcan XC-72, with increases up to 721% and 194% in specific power density, respectively. The enhanced performance of carbon aerogel is attributed to its large specific surface area, high mesopore to micropore ratio, and even dispersion of catalyst particles. Accelerated stress tests show that carbon aerogel has comparable durability with Vulcan XC-72, while activated carbon aerogel is less durable than both materials. Thus, this mesoporous carbon aerogel provides an efficient, cost-reduced alternative to existing microporous carbon material as catalyst support in PEMFC.