Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications
The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) encompassing the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and catalyst layers are the key components in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). The cost of the PEMFC stacks has been limiting its commercialization due to the inflated price of conventional pla...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7713 |
| _version_ | 1797400225500889088 |
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| author | Sethu Sundar Pethaiah Arunkumar Jayakumar Kalyani Palanichamy |
| author_facet | Sethu Sundar Pethaiah Arunkumar Jayakumar Kalyani Palanichamy |
| author_sort | Sethu Sundar Pethaiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) encompassing the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and catalyst layers are the key components in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). The cost of the PEMFC stacks has been limiting its commercialization due to the inflated price of conventional platinum (Pt)-based catalysts. As a consequence, the authors of this paper focus on developing novel bi-metallic (Pt-Co) nano-alloy-catalyzed MEAs using the non-equilibrium impregnation–reduction (NEIR) approach with an aim to reduce the Pt content, and hence, the cost. Herein, the MEAs are fabricated on a Nafion<sup>®</sup> membrane with a 0.4 mg<sub>Pt</sub>cm<sup>−2</sup> Pt:Co electrocatalyst loading at three atomic ratios, viz., 90:10, 70:30, and 50:50. The High Resolution-Scanning Electron Microscopic (HR-SEM) characterization of the MEAs show a favorable surface morphology with a uniform distribution of Pt-Co alloy particles with an average size of about 15–25 µm. Under standard fuel cell test conditions, an MEA with a 50:50 atomic ratio of Pt:Co exhibited a peak power density of 0.879 Wcm<sup>−2</sup> for H<sub>2</sub>/O<sub>2</sub> and 0.727 Wcm<sup>−2</sup> for H<sub>2</sub>/air systems. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD), SEM, EDX, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), impedance, and polarization studies validate that Pt:Co can be a potential affordable alternative to high-cost Pt. Additionally, a high degree of stability in the fuel cell performance was also demonstrated with Pt<sub>50</sub>:Co<sub>50</sub>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:52:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b1907ae947c482eabcb8e26d1da2d58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:52:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b1907ae947c482eabcb8e26d1da2d582023-12-08T15:14:28ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-11-011623771310.3390/en16237713Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell ApplicationsSethu Sundar Pethaiah0Arunkumar Jayakumar1Kalyani Palanichamy2School of Engineering and Technology, St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600054, IndiaSchool of Engineering and Technology, St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600054, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625021, IndiaThe membrane electrode assembly (MEA) encompassing the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and catalyst layers are the key components in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). The cost of the PEMFC stacks has been limiting its commercialization due to the inflated price of conventional platinum (Pt)-based catalysts. As a consequence, the authors of this paper focus on developing novel bi-metallic (Pt-Co) nano-alloy-catalyzed MEAs using the non-equilibrium impregnation–reduction (NEIR) approach with an aim to reduce the Pt content, and hence, the cost. Herein, the MEAs are fabricated on a Nafion<sup>®</sup> membrane with a 0.4 mg<sub>Pt</sub>cm<sup>−2</sup> Pt:Co electrocatalyst loading at three atomic ratios, viz., 90:10, 70:30, and 50:50. The High Resolution-Scanning Electron Microscopic (HR-SEM) characterization of the MEAs show a favorable surface morphology with a uniform distribution of Pt-Co alloy particles with an average size of about 15–25 µm. Under standard fuel cell test conditions, an MEA with a 50:50 atomic ratio of Pt:Co exhibited a peak power density of 0.879 Wcm<sup>−2</sup> for H<sub>2</sub>/O<sub>2</sub> and 0.727 Wcm<sup>−2</sup> for H<sub>2</sub>/air systems. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD), SEM, EDX, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), impedance, and polarization studies validate that Pt:Co can be a potential affordable alternative to high-cost Pt. Additionally, a high degree of stability in the fuel cell performance was also demonstrated with Pt<sub>50</sub>:Co<sub>50</sub>.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7713Pt:Co alloybi-metallic nano-alloy electrocatalystnon-equilibrium impregnation–reduction (NEIR) methodpeak powerdegree of stabilityMEA |
| spellingShingle | Sethu Sundar Pethaiah Arunkumar Jayakumar Kalyani Palanichamy Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications Energies Pt:Co alloy bi-metallic nano-alloy electrocatalyst non-equilibrium impregnation–reduction (NEIR) method peak power degree of stability MEA |
| title | Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_full | Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_short | Evaluation of Pt-Co Nano-Catalyzed Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications |
| title_sort | evaluation of pt co nano catalyzed membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications |
| topic | Pt:Co alloy bi-metallic nano-alloy electrocatalyst non-equilibrium impregnation–reduction (NEIR) method peak power degree of stability MEA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/23/7713 |
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