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Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Synthesis of Platinum-nickel Nanowires and Optimization for Oxygen Reduction Performance
Published on: April 27, 2018
Nonprecious transition metal nitrides as efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells
Rui Zeng1, Yao Yang1, Xinran Feng1
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Abstract:
Hydrogen fuel cells have attracted growing attention for high-performance automotive power but are hindered by the scarcity of platinum (and other precious metals) used to catalyze the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We report on a family of nonprecious transition metal nitrides (TMNs) as ORR electrocatalysts in alkaline medium. The air-exposed nitrides spontaneously form a several-nanometer-thick oxide shell on the conductive nitride core, serving as a highly active catalyst architecture. The most active catalyst, carbon-supported cobalt nitride (Co3N/C), exhibited a half-wave potential of 0.862 V and achieved a record-high peak power density among reported nitride cathode catalysts of 700 mW cm-2 in alkaline membrane electrode assemblies. Operando x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies revealed that Co3N/C remains stable below 1.0 V but experiences irreversible oxidation at higher potentials. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of nonprecious TMNs as ORR electrocatalysts and will help inform future design of TMNs for alkaline fuel cells and other energy applications.
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