Platinum group metal-free NiMo hydrogen oxidation catalysts: High performance and durability in alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells

Sadia Kabir, Kenneth Lemire, Kateryna Artyushkova, Aaron Roy, Madeleine Odgaard, Debbie Schlueter, Alexandr Oshchepkov, Antoine Bonnefont, Elena Savinova, Dinesh C. Sabarirajan, Pratiti Mandal, Ethan J. Crumlin, Iryna V. Zenyuk, Plamen Atanassov, Alexey Serov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

174 Scopus citations

Abstract

We introduce a new platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) hydrogen oxidation electrocatalyst with superior performance in anodes of alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). A carbon-supported bimetallic nickel-molybdenum catalyst was synthesized by thermal reduction of transition metal precursors on the surface of a carbon support (KetjenBlack 600J). The mass-weighted activity of 4.5 A gMe-1 determined in a liquid electrolyte 0.1 M NaOH using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) technique is comparable to the value reported for Pd/C with a comparable particle size under similar conditions. This NiMo/KB catalyst was integrated in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using an alkaline exchange membrane and ionomer. Single AEMFC tests performed in a H2/O2 configuration resulted in a record power density output of 120 mW cm-2 at 0.5 V, the MEA was found to be durable under the conditions of potential hold of 0.7 V for 115 h. For the first time, operando X-ray computed tomography (CT) experiments were performed demonstrating liquid water formation at the PGM-free anode during cell operation, and in situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (APXAS) were used to study the role of molybdenum in hydrogen adsorption.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24433-24443
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume5
Issue number46
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes

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