Fabrication of bimetallic PtPd nanowire electrocatalysts by centrifugal electrospinning method for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Bimetallic PtPd nanowires are produced by the centrifugal electrospinning method and their application as electrocatalysts in the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is evaluated. The effects of system parameters on the morphology of PtPd nanowires after calcination are explored including the rotation speed of spinneret, applied electric field, and atomic ratio of Pt and Pd in the composition. Cyclic voltammetry tests are conducted to characterize the electrochemical property and the produced PtPd nanowires are employed to fabricate the cathode catalyst layer in a PEMFC. The cell performance is measured and compared with commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. Results show that bimetallic PtPd nanowires can be produced successfully with minimum mean diameter of 79 ± 24 nm and maximum electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 10.29 m 2 g − 1 at the atomic ratio Pt:Pd = 3:1. By the accelerated degradation tests, the PtPd nanowires demonstrate better durability than Pt/C. The present results reveal that the centrifugal electrospinning method can successfully fabricate PtPd nanowires which have great potential to be utilized in PEMFCs. • PtPd nanowires are fabricated by centrifugal electrospinning method successfully. • Optimal operation conditions are evaluated to produce PtPd alloy nanowires. • The produced PtPd nanowires present good ECSA and durability. • PEMFC using PtPd nanowires as cathode catalysts shows good performance.