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Cobalt–Nitrogen Co‐doped Carbon Nanotube Cathode Catalyst for Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Kruusenberg Ivar,
Ramani Dilip,
Ratso Sander,
Joost Urmas,
Saar Rando,
Rauwel Protima,
Kannan Arunachala M.,
Tammeveski Kaido
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemelectrochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 2196-0216
DOI - 10.1002/celc.201600241
Subject(s) - catalysis , cobalt , electrocatalyst , carbon nanotube , inorganic chemistry , materials science , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , chemical engineering , reversible hydrogen electrode , carbon fibers , cathode , membrane electrode assembly , membrane , chemistry , electrode , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , anode , composite material , working electrode , organic chemistry , biochemistry , composite number , engineering
A highly active state‐of‐the‐art catalyst was synthesized by cobalt–nitrogen co‐doping of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (Co/N/MWCNT) as non‐precious metal catalyst using cobalt chloride and dicyandiamide by high‐temperature treatment. A range of physicochemical characterization methods were used to observe the surface structure and composition of the synthesized electrocatalyst material. The kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on this catalyst material was studied in 0.1 m KOH solution by using the rotating‐disk electrode method. The Co/N/MWCNT catalyst showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for ORR in alkaline media. In addition, the performance of the catalyst in a fuel cell was evaluated by fabricating membrane electrode assemblies employing a Tokuyama® anion exchange membrane (AEM), with hydrogen and oxygen gases at various temperatures. AEM fuel cell with Co/N/MWCNT cathode catalyst exhibited a power density of 115 mW cm −2 with H 2 /O 2 gases (100 % RH) at ambient pressure at 50 °C.