Electrochemical properties of Pt-Co-Zr thin films on high surface area NSTF supports

Nanostructured thin film supports (NSTF) are a promising fuel cell (FC) technology demonstrated by 3M [1]. We have examined the electrochemical performance of Pt-Co-Zr films deposited onto NSTF supports by dc-magnetron sputtering. In this presentation, we will present results of microstructural, composition, and electrochemical properties, for NSTF supported (Pt$_{3}$Co)$_{100-x}$Zr$_{x}$ thin films, with 10 $<$ x $<$ 40 (At. {\%}). Electrochemical measurements show that the films are electrochemically stable, and active for the oxygen-reduction-reaction (ORR), with ORR kinetic current densities at 0.9 V (vs. NHE), up to 57X greater than those of Pt(111) films measured in the same cell. The composition dependence of the ORR, and relevant physical properties will be discussed. \\[4pt][1] M. K. Debe, A. J. Steinbach, G. D. Vernstrom et al, J. Electrochemical Soc. 158, B910 (2011). \\[4pt] Acknowledgements: The research in this presentation was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We acknowledge support from the Department of Energy (DE-PS36-08GO98101). We thank our collaborators Dr. M. Debe, Dr. R. Atanasoski, and G. D. Vernstrom of 3M Corp.