#9 Highly Stable and Ordered Intermetallic PtCoN/KB Electrocatalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Author: Gozde Ustuner
Institution: Stony Brook University, The Advanced Energy Center
Abstract:
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered promising power sources as they offer a highly efficient and environmentally friendly solution for energy conversion. The practical applications of the commercial fuel cell have been not achieved due to its high cost and limited durability of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). One of the main reasons for the high cost of the MEA is the amount of Pt used to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode of PEMFC. Pt is the most used element due to its high activity towards ORR however, its low durability, high cost and degradation due to CO brings the need for a new catalyst development with low Pt content. To date, Pt-Co alloy nanoparticles have been exhibited as one of the best alternative catalyst for commercial Pt/C catalyst. Thus, this work focuses on synthesis of PtCoN/KB electrocatalyst as it promises highly stable and active ORR catalyst. More specifically, it presents that the incorporation of lower Pt mass loadings with Co catalyst will enhance the performance of the ORR and mass and specific activity of the catalyst. Electrocatalytic activity was seen to be improved by doping the catalyst with Nitrogen (N) in previous studies therefore, controlled number of nitrogen into alloy nanoparticles are infused to improve the activity. Electrochemical testing will be conducted to analyze electrochemical surface area (ECSA), mass and specific activity. The chemical and physical properties of the catalyst are characterized by using material characterization techniques to analyze the nanoparticle structure.