Voltage cycling durable catalysts

摘要

A fuel cell electrocatalyst layer having increased voltage cycling durability. The electrocatalyst layer comprises annealed platinum particles having an average particle size diameter from about 3 to about 15 nm deposited on a support structure. The platinum particles are annealed at a temperature from about 800 to about 1,400° C. for a time period such that the surface area is reduced by about 20% as compared to the original surface area. In various embodiments, the electrocatalyst layer retains an electrochemical surface area that is greater than 50% of an original electrochemical surface area after about 15,000 voltage cycles in the range from about 0.6 to about 1.0 V.