(398by) Optimizing Pt loading on Three-Dimensional Carbon Foam for HER

The high demand of platinum is due to its high catalytic activity making it the best catalyst for many applications like hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and fuel cell applications. Pt nanoparticles were deposited by pulsing potential method on four samples of large surface area carbon foams with different amounts of charge passed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Histogram were used to study the particle distribution of Pt nuclei on the carbon foam surface. The results show an increase in particle density with increasing amount of Pt. The actual amount of platinum deposited was found by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). All samples are tested for hydrogen evolution activity in acid and base and found to be highly active compare to Pt wire. The overpotential values used for comparison were taken from the CV graphs, and show that samples with 50 mC cm^-2 and 300 mC cm^-2 have the lowest overpotentials. The stability tests were done at a current density of -100 mA cm^-2. The overpotential in both cases reached a stable value after around 2-3 hours.