Improvement of cathode performance on Pt-CeO(x) by optimization of electrochemical pretreatment condition for PEFC application.

Pt-CeO(x)/C electrocatalysts for the improvement of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity on cathode were prepared by a combined process of precipitation and co-impregnation methods. The Pt-CeO(x)/C electrocatalysts pretreated by the optimized electrochemical conditioning process showed high ORR activity as compared with homemade Pt/C electrocatalyst. Also, it showed high stability in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) test up to 1000 cycles into 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) aqueous solution. On the basis of the data of cyclic voltammogram of 30 cyclic sweeps, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscope image, and selected area electron diffraction analysis, it is concluded that the Pt-CeO(x) heterointerface involving the defect cluster formed by using optimized electrochemical pretreatment conditions on Pt in Pt-CeO(x)/C electro-catalyst contributes to the promotion of ORR activity and retention of its stability in long CV tests up to 1000 cycles.