Direct Methanol Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with a Non-Platinum Group Metal Cathode based on Iron-Aminoantipyrine Catalyst

Janarthanan, Rajeswari; Serov, Alexey; Pilli, Satyananda Kishore; Gamarra, Daniel A.; Atanassov, Plamen; Hibbs, Michael R.; Herring, Andrew M.

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2015.03.209

Direct Methanol Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with a Non-Platinum Group Metal Cathode based on Iron-Aminoantipyrine Catalyst

Journal Article · Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Electrochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.03.209· OSTI ID:1512905

Janarthanan, Rajeswari ^[1]; Serov, Alexey ^[2]; Pilli, Satyananda Kishore ^[1]; Gamarra, Daniel A. ^[1]; Atanassov, Plamen ^[2]; Hibbs, Michael R. ^[3]; Herring, Andrew M. ^[1]

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The objective of the current report is to compare the performance of poly(phenylene) based anion exchange membranes in an alkaline direct methanol fuel cell when platinum cathode catalysts are replaced with non-platinum cathode catalysts. In a KOH-free methanol fuel, we show that a less expensive non-Pt cathode catalyst (derived from Fe-Aminoantipyrine, Fe-AAPyr using Generations 1 and 2 sacrificial silica supports) provide better or comparable performance to commercial Pt cathode catalysts. The peak power density, current density and open circuit voltage of Fe-AAPyr-G-1 in 1 M methanol at 80 °C are 2.78 mW cm^–2, 19.1 mA cm^–2 and 0.7 V respectively. In a direct methanol fuel cell utilizing KOH in the fuel feed, the non-Pt catalyst shows promising peak power density of 52 mW cm^–2 with the Fe-AAPyr-G-2 cathode catalyst, comparable to a commercial Pt catalyst.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1512905

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1247183

Report Number(s):: SAND--2015-9089J; 666881

Journal Information:: Electrochimica Acta, Journal Name: Electrochimica Acta Journal Issue: C Vol. 175; ISSN 0013-4686

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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