Non-Precious Metal Electrocatalysts Based on Ordered Nanoporous Carbon Structures for Energy Conversion Devices

摘要

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have been considered to be a promising power source of alternative energy because of their cleanliness and high efficiency, the reusability of exhaust heat, and their flexibility for mobile, transportation, and stationary applications.1,2 For the cathode side of PEFCs, platinum nanoparticles supported on porous carbons (Pt/C) are most widely used.3 However, even Pt/C catalysts show sluggish kinetics for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Furthermore, the prohibitively high cost and limited supply of Pt and its susceptibility to methanol and agglomeration during fuel cell operation have been raised as major issues to be addressed. As such, the exploration of new ORR electrocatalysts beyond Pt-based catalysts has recently been of prime importance. Efforts toward this aim have been geared to develop new electrocatalysts that have a minimized amount of Pt or Pt-free compositions. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are another type of energy conversion device that convert solar energy into electrical energy.