Hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) fuel cells hold promising applications in transportation and stationary, however, their widespread commercialization is greatly hindered by the high cost. Platinum (Pt) represents one of the largest cost components of a fuel cell, therefore, many R&D activities have been focusing on strategies that will increase the activity and utilization of platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts, and PGM-free catalysts for long-term applications. In this talk, I will present our work to address the main challenges of the catalysts via two approaches: low-Pt catalysts and Pt-free catalysts. On one hand, we have developed various unique nanostructured Pt-based catalysts, including Pt nanowires, nanotubes, alloys and single atoms, as well as novel catalyst supports, to significantly increase the activity and stability of the Pt-based catalysts for ORR in fuel cells. Based on the major breakthroughs on Fe/N/C catalyst achieved by the Dodelet team at INRS (with the MEA activity and performance approaching that of Pt catalyst) [1,2], recently, in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems and Toyota, we have made significant progress on catalyst stability. Specifically in the following aspects: (i) identifying the active sites, (ii) understanding the fuel cell degradation mechanisms experimentally and theoretically, (iii) developing approaches to improving the stability of the Fe/N/C catalyst, such as pore size control, and fluorination, (iv) catalyst layer and electrode optimization, such as catalyst hydrophobicity adjustment, Fe/N/C and ultra-low loading Pt/C hybrid catalyst, etc. [3-15].

Low-Pt and Pt-free catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.