Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) electrodes were platinized by a modulated pulse current electrodeposition. An uncatalyzed carbon electrode (UCE), on which a layer of Nafion-bonded carbon was dispersed in advance, was served as a substrate for electrodeposition. The platinized electrode by electrodeposition was assessed by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy. The preliminary results showed that the height and width of deposition pulse current were critical for the properties of Pt deposit. For instance, as the on-time and off-time were fixed at 300 μs and 1200 μs, respectively, and deposition time fixed at 120 s, the electrode prepared at a peak current density of 100 mA·cm-2 exhibited the best performance, and meanwhile the particle size of the Pt deposits was as small as 5-8 nm. The Pt utilization efficiency of such an electrode was as high as 43.14%. The current efficiency for Pt deposition, in this case, was about 45%.

Key words: PEMFC, Pulse current electrodeposition, Electro-catalysis, Porous electrode