Inhibition of Bismuth Dissolution during Anode Catalyst Layer Pore Former Removal in a Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell

An in-situ method is presented that protects the submonolayer of Bi on Pt/C, for enhanced formic acid electrooxidation in a fuel cell, from oxidative dissolution due to elevated potentials during an acid leaching pore former removal process by maintaining a potential of 0 V vs RHE. Comparing the current density of the no pore former catalyst layer at 0.25 V to the uncontrolled ex-situ acid leached catalyst layer, there was a 65% loss in activity, while for the in-situ potential controlled acid leached catalyst layer with pore former a 20% increase in performance was measured.