U.S. Department of Energy Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Catalyst Development Activities

摘要

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Fuel Cell Technologies Program supports research and development of electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. R&D projects address cost, durability, and performance with the goal of reducing or eliminating platinum group metals from the catalysts. The projects' strategies include: ultra-low platinum loading, platinum alloy catalysts, novel architectures, and non-PGM catalysts. The deposition of Pt monolayers on Pd nanoparticles was improved by displacement of Pd by Pt; the catalyst activity is comparable to those fabricated using Cu underpotential deposition. The specific activity of nanoparticles can be improved by ～4x using ternary alloys. Catalysts, prepared with excess non-noble elements that are removed during processing, i.e., dealloying, attain a mass activity exceeding that of commercial catalysts. Extended catalyst surfaces on nanotubes, nanowires, and metal oxides have been developed. Results from DOE's catalyst projects will be discussed in detail.