PGM-free Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Catalyst layer design

Sarah Stariha; Kateryna Artyushkova; Michael J. Workman; Alexey Serov; Sam Mckinney; Barr Halevi; Plamen Atanassov

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.098

PGM-free Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Catalyst layer design

Sarah Stariha, Kateryna Artyushkova, Michael J. Workman, Alexey Serov, Sam Mckinney, Barr Halevi, Plamen Atanassov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work studies the morphology of platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalyst layers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and compares catalytic performance via polarization curves. Three different nitrogen-rich organic precursors are used to prepare the catalysts. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) tomography, the porosity, Euler number (pore connectivity), overall roughness, solid phase size and pore size are calculated for catalyst surfaces and volumes. Catalytic activity is determined using membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. It is found that the dominant factor in MEA performance is transport limitations. Through the 2D and 3D metrics it is concluded that pore connectivity has the biggest effect on transport performance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	43-49
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Power Sources
Volume	326
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.098
State	Published - 2016
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work is supported by DOE-EERE Fuel Cell Technology Program : “Development of Novel Non Pt Group Metal Electrocatalysts for PEMFC” (S. Mukerjee, PI), and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. 1418062 . The preparation and testing of all the MEAs was done at Pajarito Powder LLC.

Funders	Funder number
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Education and Human Resources	1418062
Fuel Cell Technologies Program

Keywords

Catalyst layer morphology
Focused ion beam
Membrane electrode assembly
Platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts
Polarization curves

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.098

Cite this

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title = "PGM-free Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Catalyst layer design",

abstract = "This work studies the morphology of platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalyst layers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and compares catalytic performance via polarization curves. Three different nitrogen-rich organic precursors are used to prepare the catalysts. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) tomography, the porosity, Euler number (pore connectivity), overall roughness, solid phase size and pore size are calculated for catalyst surfaces and volumes. Catalytic activity is determined using membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. It is found that the dominant factor in MEA performance is transport limitations. Through the 2D and 3D metrics it is concluded that pore connectivity has the biggest effect on transport performance.",

keywords = "Catalyst layer morphology, Focused ion beam, Membrane electrode assembly, Platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts, Polarization curves",

author = "Sarah Stariha and Kateryna Artyushkova and Workman, {Michael J.} and Alexey Serov and Sam Mckinney and Barr Halevi and Plamen Atanassov",

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year = "2016",

doi = "10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.098",

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T2 - Catalyst layer design

AU - Stariha, Sarah

AU - Artyushkova, Kateryna

AU - Workman, Michael J.

AU - Serov, Alexey

AU - Mckinney, Sam

AU - Halevi, Barr

AU - Atanassov, Plamen

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - This work studies the morphology of platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalyst layers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and compares catalytic performance via polarization curves. Three different nitrogen-rich organic precursors are used to prepare the catalysts. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) tomography, the porosity, Euler number (pore connectivity), overall roughness, solid phase size and pore size are calculated for catalyst surfaces and volumes. Catalytic activity is determined using membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. It is found that the dominant factor in MEA performance is transport limitations. Through the 2D and 3D metrics it is concluded that pore connectivity has the biggest effect on transport performance.

AB - This work studies the morphology of platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalyst layers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and compares catalytic performance via polarization curves. Three different nitrogen-rich organic precursors are used to prepare the catalysts. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) tomography, the porosity, Euler number (pore connectivity), overall roughness, solid phase size and pore size are calculated for catalyst surfaces and volumes. Catalytic activity is determined using membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. It is found that the dominant factor in MEA performance is transport limitations. Through the 2D and 3D metrics it is concluded that pore connectivity has the biggest effect on transport performance.

KW - Catalyst layer morphology

KW - Focused ion beam

KW - Membrane electrode assembly

KW - Platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts

KW - Polarization curves

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JO - Journal of Power Sources

JF - Journal of Power Sources

ER -

PGM-free Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction: Catalyst layer design

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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