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Iron-based cathode catalyst with enhanced power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

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  • Eric Proietti

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications
    Canetique Electrocatalysis Inc.)

  • Frédéric Jaouen

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications)

  • Michel Lefèvre

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications
    Canetique Electrocatalysis Inc.)

  • Nicholas Larouche

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications)

  • Juan Tian

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications)

  • Juan Herranz

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications)

  • Jean-Pol Dodelet

    (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications)

Abstract

H2-air polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells are electrochemical power generators with potential vehicle propulsion applications. To help reduce their cost and encourage widespread use, research has focused on replacing the expensive Pt-based electrocatalysts in polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells with a lower-cost alternative. Fe-based cathode catalysts are promising contenders, but their power density has been low compared with Pt-based cathodes, largely due to poor mass-transport properties. Here we report an iron-acetate/phenanthroline/zeolitic-imidazolate-framework-derived electrocatalyst with increased volumetric activity and enhanced mass-transport properties. The zeolitic-imidazolate-framework serves as a microporous host for phenanthroline and ferrous acetate to form a catalyst precursor that is subsequently heat treated. A cathode made with the best electrocatalyst from this work, tested in H2-O2, has a power density of 0.75 W cm−2 at 0.6 V, a meaningful voltage for polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells operation, comparable with that of a commercial Pt-based cathode tested under identical conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Proietti & Frédéric Jaouen & Michel Lefèvre & Nicholas Larouche & Juan Tian & Juan Herranz & Jean-Pol Dodelet, 2011. "Iron-based cathode catalyst with enhanced power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1427
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1427
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    Cited by:

    1. Fang, Yuan & Zhang, Tingting & Wang, Yonghui & Chen, Yuanzhen & Liu, Yan & Wu, Wenling & Zhu, Jianfeng, 2020. "The highly efficient cathode of framework structural Fe2O3/Mn2O3 in passive direct methanol fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    2. Shuhu Yin & Long Chen & Jian Yang & Xiaoyang Cheng & Hongbin Zeng & Yuhao Hong & Huan Huang & Xiaoxiao Kuai & Yangu Lin & Rui Huang & Yanxia Jiang & Shigang Sun, 2024. "A Fe-NC electrocatalyst boosted by trace bromide ions with high performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Pu, Zonghua & Zhang, Gaixia & Hassanpour, Amir & Zheng, Dewen & Wang, Shanyu & Liao, Shijun & Chen, Zhangxin & Sun, Shuhui, 2021. "Regenerative fuel cells: Recent progress, challenges, perspectives and their applications for space energy system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Beltrán, Diana E. & Ding, Shuo & Xu, Hui & Wu, Gang & Litster, Shawn, 2023. "Air Contamination of Platinum-Group Metal-free Fuel Cell Cathodes with Atomically Dispersed Iron Active Sites," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    5. Zhe Jiang & Xuerui Liu & Xiao-Zhi Liu & Shuang Huang & Ying Liu & Ze-Cheng Yao & Yun Zhang & Qing-Hua Zhang & Lin Gu & Li-Rong Zheng & Li Li & Jianan Zhang & Youjun Fan & Tang Tang & Zhongbin Zhuang &, 2023. "Interfacial assembly of binary atomic metal-Nx sites for high-performance energy devices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Tzelepis, Stefanos & Kavadias, Kosmas A. & Marnellos, George E. & Xydis, George, 2021. "A review study on proton exchange membrane fuel cell electrochemical performance focusing on anode and cathode catalyst layer modelling at macroscopic level," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

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