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Title: Nano-structured platinum group metal-free catalysts and their integration in fuel cell electrode architectures

Abstract

The novel platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is synthesized by a modified sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalyst chemical/surface composition is studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the morphology of the material is observed using both HR-SEM and HR-TEM, demonstratingthe open-frame, self-supported catalysts. This new catalyst’s electrochemical performance is evaluated by polarization curves and has behaviour comparable to the state-of-the-art PGM-free catalysts. Meso-structure imaging shows pores on the order of 100 nm, the mean size of the individual silica particles in the sacrificial support. For the first time, PGM-free catalyst layer (CL) morphology in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is studied in detail by combined nano- and micro X-ray computed tomography (CT) and interpretational modelling. The highly inhomogeneous, high-tortuosity, through-thickness structure of the CL is observed with micro-CT. The nano-CT method for these thick PGM-free electrodes is not sufficient to capture the full through-thickness morphology of these electrodes. Water retention curves suggest water pooling at the MEA components‘ interfaces and significant dependence of capilary pressure and saturation on through-thickness location. Lastly, this study is the first of its kind to identify morphology-dependent transport losses in the thick PGM-free electrodes using scale-bridging between meso-, micro-,more » and macro.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States)
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1493739
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1693864
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 237; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0926-3373
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; fuel-cells; platinum group metal-free catalysts; water management; x-ray computed tomography

Citation Formats

Serov, Alexey, Shum, Andrew D., Xiao, Xianghui, De Andrade, Vincent, Artyushkova, Kateryna, Zenyuk, Iryna V., and Atanassov, Plamen. Nano-structured platinum group metal-free catalysts and their integration in fuel cell electrode architectures. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.067.
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Serov, Alexey, Shum, Andrew D., Xiao, Xianghui, De Andrade, Vincent, Artyushkova, Kateryna, Zenyuk, Iryna V., & Atanassov, Plamen. Nano-structured platinum group metal-free catalysts and their integration in fuel cell electrode architectures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.067
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Serov, Alexey, Shum, Andrew D., Xiao, Xianghui, De Andrade, Vincent, Artyushkova, Kateryna, Zenyuk, Iryna V., and Atanassov, Plamen. Sat . "Nano-structured platinum group metal-free catalysts and their integration in fuel cell electrode architectures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.067. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1493739.
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@article{osti_1493739,
title = {Nano-structured platinum group metal-free catalysts and their integration in fuel cell electrode architectures},
author = {Serov, Alexey and Shum, Andrew D. and Xiao, Xianghui and De Andrade, Vincent and Artyushkova, Kateryna and Zenyuk, Iryna V. and Atanassov, Plamen},
abstractNote = {The novel platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is synthesized by a modified sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalyst chemical/surface composition is studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the morphology of the material is observed using both HR-SEM and HR-TEM, demonstratingthe open-frame, self-supported catalysts. This new catalyst’s electrochemical performance is evaluated by polarization curves and has behaviour comparable to the state-of-the-art PGM-free catalysts. Meso-structure imaging shows pores on the order of 100 nm, the mean size of the individual silica particles in the sacrificial support. For the first time, PGM-free catalyst layer (CL) morphology in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is studied in detail by combined nano- and micro X-ray computed tomography (CT) and interpretational modelling. The highly inhomogeneous, high-tortuosity, through-thickness structure of the CL is observed with micro-CT. The nano-CT method for these thick PGM-free electrodes is not sufficient to capture the full through-thickness morphology of these electrodes. Water retention curves suggest water pooling at the MEA components‘ interfaces and significant dependence of capilary pressure and saturation on through-thickness location. Lastly, this study is the first of its kind to identify morphology-dependent transport losses in the thick PGM-free electrodes using scale-bridging between meso-, micro-, and macro.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.067},
journal = {Applied Catalysis B: Environmental},
number = C,
volume = 237,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.067
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Cited by: 56 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: SEM and TEM images of Fe-MSG catalyst prepared by Sacrificial Support Method.
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Impedance Spectroscopy Characterization of PEM Fuel Cells with Fe-N-C-Based Cathodes
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    • Reshetenko, Tatyana; Serov, Alexey; Kulikovsky, Andrei
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    Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
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    The Absence and Importance of Operando Techniques for Metal‐Free Catalysts
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    Integrating PGM‐Free Catalysts into Catalyst Layers and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Devices
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