Low loaded Pt-Co catalyst surfaces optimized by magnetron sputtering sequential deposition technique for PEM fuel cell applications: physical and electrochemical analysis on carbon paper support.

A series of thin Pt-Co films with different metal ratios were deposited by using the sequential cosputtering directly on a commercial hydrophobic carbon paper substrate at room temperature and in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. Their electrocatalytic properties toward the oxygen reduction reaction were investigated in 0.5 M HSO solution by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) on rotating disc electrode (RDE).