Influence of the Carbon Support on the Structural–Morphological Parameters and Electrochemical Properties of Platinum-Containing Catalysts for Fuel-Cell Cathode with a Proton-Exchange Membrane

Finding the optimal substrate for electrocatalysts used as electrodes in fuel cells is an urgent task for the development of hydrogen energetics. The composition and the morphological and electrochemical properties of platinum–carbon catalysts synthesized according to a common method on various carbon supports (Vulcan XC-72, Vulcan XC-72R, Ketjenblack EC-300J, Ketjenblack EC-600JD, and modified Ketjenblack EC-600JD) and of a JM-20 commercial electrocatalyst are analyzed comparatively. It is found that highly dispersed supports (from 800 m²/g) make it possible to increase the catalytic activity of Pt/C materials in the electroreduction reaction of oxygen by two times compared to those with a specific surface area of less than 250 m²/g. The preliminary treatment of a carbon support with melamine increases the stability of catalysts based on it by 40%. A platinum-carbon catalyst with a 1.6-times-higher electrochemically active surface area and 1.7-times-higher mass activity in the reaction of oxygen electroreduction compared to a commercial analogue is obtained.