Preparation and evaluation of the electrocatalytic activity of PEMFC electrodes with highly efficient Pt utilization and without ionomer addition

A simple method for the preparation of electrodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is proposed, based on the electrodeposition of Pt on commercial porous carbon substrates from H2SO4 solutions with small amounts of H2PtCl6. A special electrochemical cell was designed and built for this purpose, which enables both the preparation and the subsequent evaluation of the obtained electrodes. The electrocatalytic activities for the hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were determined and compared with those of commercial electrodes. Some of the electrodes prepared by the proposed method, with much less platinum loadings and no ionomer addition to the active layer, showed performances similar or higher than those of commercial electrodes. In particular, an outstanding behaviour was obtained with the substrate E-Tek GDL carbon cloth, where the electrodeposition was carried out on the microporous side. •Preparation of PEMFC electrodes with highly efficient Pt utilization.•Pulsed electrodeposition of Pt on commercial porous carbon substrates.•Design of a special cell for both preparation and evaluation of electrodes.•Electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction.