Fuel Cells – Polymer-Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell | Catalysts: Non-Platinum

Abstract

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the central points of research in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). A reduction of the Pt content of fuel cell electrodes is envisaged to lower their production cost, and the complete abandonment of Pt at the cathode by the use of Pt-free electrocatalysts is one of the many approaches to do so. The most developed Pt-free catalysts, M–N–C (where M is usually a transition metal) with atomically dispersed MN4 sites, are close to industrial requirements in terms of catalytic activity. Their major critical issue, a sufficient stability under operating conditions, can be effectively tackled by controlling the atomic configuration of the active sites.