A Pd/C-CeO sub(2) Anode Catalyst for High-Performance Platinum-Free Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie Vol. 128; no. 20; pp. 6108 - 6111
• Main Authors: Miller, Hamish A, Lavacchi, Alessandro, Vizza, Francesco, Marelli, Marcello, DiBenedetto, Francesco, D'Acapito, Francesco, Paska, Yair, Page, Miles, Dekel, Dario R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2016
• Subjects: Anion exchanging; Anodes; Catalysts; Exchange; Fuel cells; Membranes; Palladium; Platinum
• ISSN: 0044-8249; 1521-3757
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201600647

One of the biggest obstacles to the dissemination of fuel cells is their cost, a large part of which is due to platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts. Complete removal of Pt is a difficult if not impossible task for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM-FCs). The anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEM-FC) has long been proposed as a solution as non-Pt metals may be employed. Despite this, few examples of Pt-free AEM-FCs have been demonstrated with modest power output. The main obstacle preventing the realization of a high power density Pt-free AEM-FC is sluggish hydrogen oxidation (HOR) kinetics of the anode catalyst. Here we describe a Pt-free AEM-FC that employs a mixed carbon-CeO sub(2) supported palladium (Pd) anode catalyst that exhibits enhanced kinetics for the HOR. AEM-FC tests run on dry H sub(2) and pure air show peak power densities of more than 500mWcm super(-2).Original Abstract: Kostenguenstige Zelle: Eine platinfreie alkalische Membran-Brennstoffzelle mit einer elektrokatalytischen Pd/C-CeO sub(2)-Anode erzeugt Spitzenleistungsdichten von ueber 500mWcm super(-2). Die morphologische Analyse offenbart eine feine Verteilung der Pd-Nanopartikel ueberwiegend auf dem CeO sub(2)-Teil des Katalysators.