Polypyrrole and Polythiophene Modified Carbon Nanotube‐Based Cathode Catalysts for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

• Published in: ChemElectroChem Vol. 9; no. 7
• Main Authors: Sokka, Andri, Mooste, Marek, Marandi, Margus, Käärik, Maike, Kozlova, Jekaterina, Kikas, Arvo, Kisand, Vambola, Treshchalov, Alexey, Tamm, Aile, Leis, Jaan, Holdcroft, Steven, Tammeveski, Kaido
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 11.04.2022
• Subjects: Anion exchange membrane fuel cell; Anion exchanging; Catalysts; Cathodes; Chemical reduction; Composite materials; Electrocatalysis; Electron transfer; Fuel cells; HMT-PMBI; Maximum power density; Membranes; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Non-precious metal catalyst; Oxygen reduction; Oxygen reduction reactions; Photoelectrons; Polypyrroles; Polythiophene
• ISSN: 2196-0216; 2196-0216
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.202200161

The development of non‐precious metal cathode catalysts for anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) is beneficial for achieving a more affordable and sustainable H2 economy. Herein, we propose a polypyrrole, polythiophene, and multi‐walled carbon nanotube‐based composite material (PPy/PTh/MWCNT) for the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the AEMFC cathode. The PPy/PTh/MWCNT catalyst has a tubular micro‐mesoporous structure with high specific surface area. The elemental composition of the catalyst's surface was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In 0.1 M KOH solution, the ORR half‐wave potential is −0.16 V (SCE) and the electron transfer number is 4. In a single‐cell AEMFC, the PPy/PTh/MWCNT catalyst exhibited a maximum power density of 284 mW cm−2, which is 86 % of the value obtained using commercial Pt/C cathode catalyst under the same testing conditions. A‐PPy/PTh/MWCNT: A catalyst based on polypyrrole, polythiophene, and carbon nanotubes as main components was prepared in this work via pyrolysis of the composite material. The catalyst was employed at the cathode of the anion exchange membrane fuel cell and showed the maximum power density of 284 mW cm−2, which was 86 % of the corresponding value obtained with commercial Pt/C.