A New Deposition Method for the Preparation of Pt–Pd Nanocatalysts on a Nafion Coated Carbon Black via the Reduction of Metallic Precursors in a Drying Process

A simple method for the synthesis of Pt–Pd nanocatalysts was developed for a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which was loaded on a nafion coated carbon black via the sequential reduction of palladium(II) bis(acetylacetonato) and platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonato) in a drying process. Metallic precursors were sublimed and reduced on a nafion coated carbon black which was spray coated on a gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a glass reactor of N₂ atmosphere at 180 °C for various times. The morphology and distribution of the Pt and Pd nanoparticles were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and we found that the loading weight, number density and particle size of Pt–Pd nanoparticles increased with increasing exposure time at 180 °C.