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Mesostructured Platinum‐Free Anode and Carbon‐Free Cathode Catalysts for Durable Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Cui Xiangzhi,
Shi Jianlin,
Wang Yongxia,
Chen Yu,
Zhang Lingxia,
Hua Zile
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201301079
Subject(s) - proton exchange membrane fuel cell , anode , platinum , cathode , materials science , catalysis , carbon fibers , membrane electrode assembly , chemical engineering , corrosion , electrode , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , composite number , engineering
Abstract As one of the most important clean energy sources, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been a topic of extensive research focus for decades. Unfortunately, several critical technique obstacles, such as the high cost of platinum electrode catalysts, performance degradation due to the CO poisoning of the platinum anode, and carbon corrosion by oxygen in the cathode, have greatly impeded its commercial development. A prototype of a single PEMFC catalyzed by a mesostructured platinum‐free WO 3 /C anode and a mesostructured carbon‐free Pt/WC cathode catalysts is reported herein. The prototype cell exhibited 93 % power output of a standard PEMFC using commercial Pt/C catalysts at 50 and 70 °C, and more importantly, CO poisoning‐free and carbon corrosion‐resistant characters of the anode and cathode, respectively. Consequently, the prototype cell demonstrated considerably enhanced cell operation durability. The mesostructured electrode catalysts are therefore highly promising in the future development and application of PEMFCs.