Fuel Cell Performance of Non-Precious Metal Based Electrocatalysts

Authors

Yan-feng ZHANG, 1. Jiangsu Aoxin NEV Co., Ltd, Yancheng, Jiangsu, 224000, China;2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;3. Shanghai AI NEV Innovative Platform Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201805, China;4. Yangtse Delta Academy of NEV CO.,LTD, Yancheng, Jiangsu, 224000, China;
Fei XIAO, 2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;
Guang-yu CHEN, 2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;5. Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou 511458, China;
Min-hua SHAO, 2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China;5. Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou 511458, China;6. Energy Institute, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Min-hua SHAO(kemshao@ust.hk)

Abstract

The commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is hindered by high cost and low durability of Pt based electrocatalysts. Developing efficient and durable non-precious metal catalysts is a promising approach to addressing these conundrums. Among them, transition metals dispersed in a nitrogen (N)-doped carbon support (M-N-C) show good oxygen reduction reaction activity. This article reviews recent progress in M-N-C catalysts development, focusing on the catalysts design, membrane electrode assembly fabrication, fuel cell performance, and durability testing. Template-assisted approach is an efficient way to synthesize M-N-C materials with homogeneously dispersed single atom active site and reduced metal particles, carbides formation. However, the issue related to low intensity of active sites should be addressed via strengthening metal-ligand interaction and using high surface area precursors. In general, the catalyst loading for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of non-precious catalyst is high (3 ~ 4 mg·cm^-2) in order to obtain acceptable performance, which is also highly dependent on ink preparation and coating protocol, ionomer/catalyst ratio, etc. The highest power densities for Fe-N-C and Co-N-C are reported to be 1.18 and 0.87 W·cm^-2 with O₂ at the cathode, respectively. Despite the significant progress in non-precious metal catalysts development, the undesired durability (only a few hundreds of hours) is still far from the target of 5000 h by 2025. Thus, much more efforts should be spent on improving their durability.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

proton exchange membrane fuel cells, non-precious metal catalysts, membrane electrode assembly, durability

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.200314

Publication Date

2020-08-28

Online Available Date

2020-05-20

Revised Date

2020-05-08

Received Date

2020-03-14

Recommended Citation

Yan-feng ZHANG, Fei XIAO, Guang-yu CHEN, Min-hua SHAO. Fuel Cell Performance of Non-Precious Metal Based Electrocatalysts[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2020 , 26(4): 563-572.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.200314
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol26/iss4/10