Strategies for improving stability of Pt-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Guanghui Xu; Liting Yang; Jinsheng Li; Changpeng Liu; Wei Xing; Jianbing Zhu

Advanced Sensor and Energy Materials (Jun 2023)

Strategies for improving stability of Pt-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Guanghui Xu,
Liting Yang,
Jinsheng Li,
Changpeng Liu,
Wei Xing,
Jianbing Zhu

Affiliations

Guanghui Xu: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Liting Yang: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Jinsheng Li: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
Changpeng Liu: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Wei Xing: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Corresponding authors.
Jianbing Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Power Sources, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 2
p. 100058

Abstract

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Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which can directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy with high efficiency and zero carbon emission, have attracted extensive attention. Unfortunately, the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the cathode leads to considerable overpotential and thus severely lowering its operational energy conversion efficiency. Although Pt-based catalysts have been developed as the most efficient catalyst towards ORR, however, their stability is far from the application requirements, which hinders the large-scale application of PEMFCs to a certain extent. Thus, improving the stability of Pt-based catalysts is urgently desirable to advance the widespread commercialization of fuel cells. This review focuses on the stability of Pt-based ORR catalysts in PEMFCs, from the perspectives of catalyst degradation mechanism and stability improvement strategies. It is aimed at providing research directions for the development of stable Pt-based catalysts. Firstly, degradation of metal nanoparticles (dissolution, migration, agglomeration, Ostwald ripening, etc.) and corrosion of carbon supports are introduced. To conquer the two attenuation mechanisms, stability improvement strategies such as constructing intermetallic compounds, enhancing metal-support interaction and the modification of carbon support, are summarized in detail. In addition, some typical stability characterization techniques are outlined. Finally, we discuss the challenges and possible research directions in the future. We hope this review can help readers gain insights into the stability issues of Pt-based ORR nanocatalysts and encourage research that will enable the commercialization of PEMFCs.

Published in Advanced Sensor and Energy Materials

ISSN: 2773-045X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery: Renewable energy sources; Technology: Chemical technology; Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Production of electric energy or power. Powerplants. Central stations
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/advanced-sensor-and-energy-materials

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