Incorporation of Platinum and Gold Partially Reduced Graphene Oxide in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells for Increased Carbon Monoxide Tolerance

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) can potentially provide ``green'' energy but the platinum catalyst's susceptibility to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning reduces output power. This project hypothesized that gold and platinum-partially reduced graphene oxide (Au/Pt-prGO) catalysts, incorporated into the electrodes and Nafion membrane of a PEMFC, will increase CO tolerance. Aliquots of graphene oxide (GO) were functionalized with platinum and/or gold nanoparticles. Partial reduction with NaBH$_{\mathrm{4\thinspace }}$prevented precipitation. Raman Spectroscopy and HRTEM verified the chemical identity, structure, and presence of the materials. Setups were tested in a PEM fuel cell with a gas feed containing 1000 ppm of CO, and averaged an output power \textgreater 200{\%} over the control, with the most effective sample, Pt-prGO Electrode $+$ Membrane, yielding an output power \textasciitilde 250{\%} greater than the control. Additionally, each setup's poisoned output power (P$_{\mathrm{P}})$ was compared to its highest possible output power (P$_{\mathrm{M}})$. AuPt-prGO Electrode $+$ Membrane produced 100{\%} of its highest possible output power when poisoned, displaying 100{\%} resistance to all CO poisoning at the resistances tested.