Structural Aspects of Materials in Optimization of Fuel Cell Electrodes.
Authors: Ostroverkh Anna Serhiivna , Scharf Janik , Da Rosa Aristide , Kübler Markus , Gridin Vladislav , Yadav Sandeep , Schneider Jörg J. , Kramm Ulrike I. 
Published: November 2022

Today's energy problems, caused by the irrational consumption of fossil fuels and, as a result, terrible environmental consequences, require the global population to quickly introduce clean energy sources. Electrochemical power sources, which include the fuel cell, provide the technological basis for electrical energy production. While proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) rely on platinum based catalysts, obtaining stable and earth abundant catalytic materials for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important step towards large scale integration. Our work focusses on FeNC noble-metal free catalysts in PEMFC conditions. The reaction conditions are much more complex in comparison to half cells, as transport processes and e.g. carbon oxidation affect the performance data. Thus, it turns out to be extremely difficult to determine the most important factors affecting the catalytic activity and stability of the material and to optimize the structure of the membrane-electrode assembly as several factors are overlaying each other: For example, the pyrolysis temperature affects the surface area, degree of graphitization and iron-related composition as well as extent of surface functional groups [1]. The metal loading, pyrolysis temperature and a use of possible precursor templates effects the structure, surface area as well as ORR activity and selectivity of catalysts [2], [3].

In our recent work, it was shown that in contrast to the electrochemical characteristics observed in rotating disc electrode (RDE) measurements, the best performing catalyst was prepared at the highest investigated temperature for both FC activity and stability [1]. In contrast, the dwell time had only a limited impact at low pyrolysis temperature, whereas a variation from 30 min to 90 min gave significant destruction of molecular FeNx moieties for the high temperature pyrolysis. [1]

To gain further insights on the effect of preparation parameters on FC performance and in specific stability, we coupled a quadrupole mas-spectrometer to the cathode exhaust to follow possible release of CO2 depending on the applied conditions. The data are interpreted together with the structural characterization of the materials. We will discuss how the dwell time and pyrolysis temperature effected on morphology changes of the catalyst and to what extent this impacts the FC activity and short-term stability.

Acknowledgements

A.O. would like to thank you the TU Darmstadt for the Future talent scholarship, UIK gratefully acknowledges financial support by the BMBF young research group StRedO (03XP0092), and we thank Y. Ostroverkh, and Z. L. Müller, for the consultation and assistance with the fuel cell setup.

[1] J. Scharf, M. Kübler, V. Gridin, W.D.Z. Wallace, L. Ni, S.D. Paul, U.I. Kramm, Relation between half-cell and fuel cell activity and stability of FeNC catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction, (2022) SusMat, accepted (doi: 10.1002/sus2.84).

[2] P.Theis, W.D. Z. Wallace, L. Ni, M. Kübler, A. Schlander, R. W. Stark, N. Weidler, M, Gallei, U. I. Kramm. Systematic study of precursor effects on structure and oxygen reaction activity of FeNC catalysts, (2021) Philos. Trans. Royal Soc. A PHILOS T R SOC A, (doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5506708).

[3] P. Boldrin, D. Malko, A. Mehmood, U. I. Kramm, S. Wagner, S. Paul, N. Weidler, A. Kucernak. Deactivation, reactivation and super-activation of Fe-N/C oxygen reduction electrocatalysts: Gas sorption, physical and electrochemical investigation using NO and O2., (2021) Appl. Catal. B, Vol. 292, 120169, (doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120169).