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Resolving optimal ionomer interaction in fuel cell electrodes via operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Author

Listed:
  • Mengnan Wang

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Jiaguang Zhang

    (University of Lincoln)

  • Silvia Favero

    (Imperial College London)

  • Luke J. R. Higgins

    (Harwell Science & Innovation Campus)

  • Hui Luo

    (Imperial College London)

  • Ifan E. L. Stephens

    (Imperial College London)

  • Maria-Magdalena Titirici

    (Imperial College London
    Aoba-ku)

Abstract

To bridge the gap between oxygen reduction electrocatalysts development and their implementation in real proton exchange membrane fuel cell electrodes, an important aspect to be understood is the interaction between the carbon support, the active sites, and the proton conductive ionomer as it greatly affects the local transportations to the catalyst surface. Here we show that three Pt/C catalysts, synthesized using the polyol method with different carbon supports (low surface area Vulcan, high surface area Ketjenblack, and biomass-derived highly ordered mesoporous carbon), revealed significant variations in ionomer-catalyst interactions. The Pt/C catalysts supported on ordered mesoporous carbon derived from biomass showed the best performance under the gas diffusion electrode configuration. Through a unique approach of operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy combined with gas sorption analysis, we were able to demonstrate the beneficial effect of mesopore presence for optimal ionomer-catalyst interaction at both molecular and structural level.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengnan Wang & Jiaguang Zhang & Silvia Favero & Luke J. R. Higgins & Hui Luo & Ifan E. L. Stephens & Maria-Magdalena Titirici, 2024. "Resolving optimal ionomer interaction in fuel cell electrodes via operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53823-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53823-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiantao Fan & Ming Chen & Zhiliang Zhao & Zhen Zhang & Siyu Ye & Shaoyi Xu & Haijiang Wang & Hui Li, 2021. "Bridging the gap between highly active oxygen reduction reaction catalysts and effective catalyst layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(5), pages 475-486, May.
    2. Hou, Yuze & Deng, Hao & Pan, Fengwen & Chen, Wenmiao & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "Pore-scale investigation of catalyst layer ingredient and structure effect in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Yanyan Sun & Shlomi Polani & Fang Luo & Sebastian Ott & Peter Strasser & Fabio Dionigi, 2021. "Advancements in cathode catalyst and cathode layer design for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Esmaeilifar, A. & Rowshanzamir, S. & Eikani, M.H. & Ghazanfari, E., 2010. "Synthesis methods of low-Pt-loading electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 3941-3957.
    5. Kui Jiao & Jin Xuan & Qing Du & Zhiming Bao & Biao Xie & Bowen Wang & Yan Zhao & Linhao Fan & Huizhi Wang & Zhongjun Hou & Sen Huo & Nigel P. Brandon & Yan Yin & Michael D. Guiver, 2021. "Designing the next generation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 361-369, July.
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