Composition of Catalytic Layers Formed by the Ion-Beam-Assisted Deposition of Platinum and Gadolinium on Carbon Carriers

Abstract

Catalytic layers on the surface of Toray Carbon Fiber Paper TGP-H-060 T and AVCarb® Carbon Fiber Paper P50 carbon carriers are formed by the ion-beam-assisted deposition of platinum and rare-earth-metal gadolinium (as an activating additive) in order to obtain electrocatalysts for the direct oxidation of ethanol and methanol for fuel cells with a polymer membrane electrolyte. The formation of the layers is carried out in the ion-beam-assisted deposition mode, in which metal deposition and mixing of the deposited layer with the substrate surface with accelerated (U = 5 kV) ions of the same metal are carried out, respectively, from the neutral fraction of the vapor and plasma of a vacuum pulsed arc discharge. The microstructure and composition of the obtained surface layers are studied using scanning electron microscopy, electron probe X‑ray spectral microanalysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. As a result of the ionic mixing of all components, multicomponent layers containing atoms of precipitated metals and substrate elements, as well as oxygen impurities, are obtained.