(Invited) Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Based on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon and Atomically-Dispersed/Nanoclustered Metal

摘要

High cost of the platinum-based catalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is delaying wide-spread commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). It is crucial to develop highly-active and cost-effective materials to reduce amount of platinum usage and eventually to replace the platinum-based catalysts. In this respect, nitrogen-doped carbon incorporated with atomically-dispersed metal and/or metal nanoclusters (M-N-C) has attracted tremendous attention owing to their high catalytic activity towards ORR. By atomically dispersing Pt or forming Pt nanoclusters in the nitrogen-doped carbon, utilization of Pt can be maximized, resulting in ultralow usage of Pt catalyst. Fe incorporated in the nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) has been reported as the best candidate to attain high ORR activity among the non-precious catalysts. In applying these catalysts for PEMFC, it is still required to improve activity and durability of those M-N-C catalysts in the harsh acidic environment of PEMFC.