A non-noble Cr-Ni-based catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells
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esearch Letter
A non-noble Cr–Ni-based catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells P. Faubert, Department of Microsystems Engineering IMTEK, Laboratory for Process Technology, University of Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany I. Kondov, Steinbuch Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany D. Qazzazie, Department of Microsystems Engineering IMTEK, Laboratory for Sensors, University of Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany O. Yurchenko, University of Freiburg, Freiburg Materials Research Center FMF, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany C. Müller, Department of Microsystems Engineering IMTEK, Laboratory for Process Technology, University of Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany Address all correspondence to P. Faubert at [email protected] (Received 9 October 2017; accepted 12 January 2018)
Abstract We report on a new type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell based on a hydroxide ion conductive polymer combined with a non-noble chromium– nickel (Cr–Ni) catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We study variable fractions of Cr in Ni by density functional theory simulating the thermodynamic potentials characterizing the ORR. We found increased ORR catalytic activity employing the rotating disk electrode technique. The polarization curve and power densities measured for the constructed fuel cell indicate considerable performance improvement with the Cr–Ni catalyst. Thus we expect that this kind of fuel cell may open up alternative routes in fuel cell research using non-noble catalysts.
Introduction The fast kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) allows the use of non-noble metal electro catalysts. Therefore, it is useful to evaluate the electrochemical operations of the AFCs in specific areas of the relationship between cell potential and current density. The endeavor to develop non-noble catalysts for the ORR in combination with ion conductive polymer electrolyte for mobile and autonomous uses has been recognized as the future for alternative power generation technique.[1,2] Various types have been developed,[1,2] such as AFC, phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), and polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). According to that PEFC has been the most developed one in the past two decades,[3] featuring rapid start-up and high-power density particularly suitable for vehicle applications.[1–3] The strong acidic nature of the proton conductive membranes such as Nafion requires the employment of expensive noble metals such as Pt in order to ensure stable behavior against corrosion. Although a lot of effort was expended[4,5] on finding non-noble metal catalysts there is still no material of choice which ensures a Pt-like performance. Thus, to get rid of noble metal catalyst, alkaline electrolyte has to be taken into account. The working principle of an alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (
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