Ternary nickel–tungsten–copper alloy rivals platinum for catalyzing alkaline hydrogen oxidation

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 2686 - 10
• Main Authors: Qin, Shuai, Duan, Yu, Zhang, Xiao-Long, Zheng, Li-Rong, Gao, Fei-Yue, Yang, Peng-Peng, Niu, Zhuang-Zhuang, Liu, Ren, Yang, Yu, Zheng, Xu-Sheng, Zhu, Jun-Fa, Gao, Min-Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 11.05.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 140/146; 147/137; 147/143; 147/3; 639/301/299/893; 639/301/357/1016; 639/638/161/886; Anion exchange; Anion exchanging; Anodes; Benchmarks; Catalysts; Copper; Copper base alloys; Electrolytic cells; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogen; multidisciplinary; Nanoalloys; Nickel; Oxidation; Oxidation resistance; Platinum; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Stability; Ternary alloys; Tungsten; Tungsten base alloys
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22996-2

Operating fuel cells in alkaline environments permits the use of platinum-group-metal-free (PGM-free) catalysts and inexpensive bipolar plates, leading to significant cost reduction. Of the PGM-free catalysts explored, however, only a few nickel-based materials are active for catalyzing the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in alkali; moreover, these catalysts deactivate rapidly at high anode potentials owing to nickel hydroxide formation. Here we describe that a nickel–tungsten–copper (Ni 5.2 WCu 2.2 ) ternary alloy showing HOR activity rivals Pt/C benchmark in alkaline electrolyte. Importantly, we achieved a high anode potential up to 0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode on this catalyst with good operational stability over 20 h. The catalyst also displays excellent CO-tolerant ability that Pt/C catalyst lacks. Experimental and theoretical studies uncover that nickel, tungsten, and copper play in synergy to create a favorable alloying surface for optimized hydrogen and hydroxyl bindings, as well as for the improved oxidation resistance, which result in the HOR enhancement. The lack of efficient and cost-effective catalysts for H 2 oxidation reaction (HOR) hinders the application of anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Here, authors report a ternary nickel-tungsten-copper nanoalloy with marked HOR activity and stability that rivals the benchmark platinum catalyst.