Design of PGM-free cathodic catalyst layers for advanced PEM fuel cells

Reshetenko, Tatyana; Odgaard, Madeleine; Randolf, Günter; Ohtaki, Kenta K.; Bradley, John P.; Zulevi, Barr; Lyu, Xiang; Cullen, David A.; Jafta, Charl J.; Serov, Alexey; Kulikovsky, Andrei

doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121424

Title: Design of PGM-free cathodic catalyst layers for advanced PEM fuel cells

Journal Article · 19 April 2022 · Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121424 · OSTI ID:1866686

Reshetenko, Tatyana ^[1]; Odgaard, Madeleine ^[2]; Randolf, Günter ^[3]; Ohtaki, Kenta K. ^[1]; Bradley, John P. ^[1]; Zulevi, Barr ^[4]; Lyu, Xiang ^[5];

^[5];

^[5]; Kulikovsky, Andrei ^[6]

Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI (United States)
IRD Fuel Cells, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
GRandalytics, Honolulu, HI (United States)
Pajarito Powder LLC, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Germany)

Here, the design of cathodic catalysts layer (CCL) consisted of Platinum Group Metal-free (PGM-free) electrocatalysts was done by catalyst coated membrane approach. Three different Fe-Mn-N-C compounds were synthesized with Fe:Mn ratio of 1:1, 2:1 and 2:1 with modified heat treatment profile. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, pore and particle size distribution, zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy. Electrocatalysts were integrated into membrane electrode assembly and evaluated by electrochemical methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in combination with modeling were used for estimation of proton conductivity of CCL and its oxygen diffusivity. It was found that all CCLs possess extremely high proton conductivity, which was demonstrated for the first time for these types of PGM-free catalysts. The observed ORR mechanism was predominantly 4e- due to peroxide/radicals scavenging effect of Mn.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); Office of Naval Research (ONR); Hawaiian Electric Company; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; EE0008419

OSTI ID:: 1866686

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2351806; OSTI ID: 1864607

Journal Information:: Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, Journal Name: Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental Journal Issue: NA Vol. 312; ISSN 0926-3373

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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