Electrochemical characterization of platinum nanoparticles stabilized by amines

In this work we present the synthesis by Chaudret approach of Pt nanoparticles stabilized by primary amine (-NH₂) compounds. Their electrochemical performance as cathodes in low temperature polymer electrolite fuel cells on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is also presented. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the samples show Pt nanostructures with particle size varying from 10 to 100 nm depending on the kind of the stabilizer used during the catalyst preparation. In some cases well-dispersed isolated platinum nanoparticles were observed. The activity of the dispersed catalysts (Pt/C) with respect to the ORR was investigated using steady state polarization measurements. The kinetic parameters showed that although no significant differences between the Tafel slopes of the Pt catalysts exist, transfer coefficients and exchange current densities show higher activities when the Pt nanoparticles were stabilized by tert-butylamine (TBA). The performance with respect to the ORR of the Pt/C catalyst on vulcan carbon substrate is active and comparable to that reported in the literature for state-of-art electrocatalysts.