In a paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers explain that expensive precious metals, such as platinum, are currently required in hydrogen fuel cells to efficiently catalyze the reactions they employ to produce electricity. Although alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (APEMFCs) enable the use of non-precious metal electrocatalysts, they lack the necessary performance and durability to replace precious-metal-based systems.
A fuel cell produces electricity through the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and an oxygen reduction reaction (OOR). Platinum, in particular, is a model catalyst for both reactions because it catalyzes them efficiently, and is durable in the acidic environment of a PEM fuel cell.
According to the scientists, recent experiments with non-precious-metal HOR electrocatalysts aimed to overcome two…
Nickel anode key to making fuel cells cheaper, more efficient
