Materials by design is a powerful tool for the design of energy systems. We have shown that combining the Brust method for AuNP synthesis with LB film technology, it is possible to produce relatively monodisperse oblate Au, Ag, and Pd nanoparticles, and their alloys. When the Nafion membranes of hydrogen fuel cells are coated with a monolayer of these particles, the power and current outputs can be enhanced by more than 50%, even when the fuel cells are operated under ambient conditions. No enhancement is observed when oxygen is substituted at the cathode, but an enhancement of more than 200% is observed when 0.1% CO is added to the hydrogen gas stream at the anode. These results indicate that the most probable explanation of this phenomenon is catalysis of the reverse water gas shift reaction, using the two step catalysis model first proposed for Au nanoparticles on TiO2. In our case, DFT calculations show that the SO<sub>3</sub> functional groups on the Nafion membrane, can perform the same function as the metal oxide in reducing the activation barrier for the oxidation of CO at the perimeter of the NP platelets, enabling the low temperature operation of the PEM fuel cells.<br/>

Enhancing the power and current density of hydrogen fuel cells operating at low temperatures, using oblate-metal and metal-alloy nanoparticles

251st National Meeting (2016)

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