Homogeneous deposition of platinum nanoparticles on carbon black for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

A simple approach is developed for preparing carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles (NPs) that has combined homogeneous deposition (HD) of Pt complex species through a gradual increase of pH realized by in situ hydrolysis of urea and uniform reduction by ethylene glycol (EG) in a polyol process, giving control over the size and dispersion of Pt NPs. The electrocatalysis ability of the Pt catalysts produced by HD-EG is shown by determining the electrochemical surface area and fuel-cell polarization performance.