Sparsely Dispersed CeO_x-Stabilized Pt Nanoparticles Overcome Pt Loading-Durability Trade-Off for Highly Durable...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are crucial for clean transportation.
• High platinum group metal (PGM) loading in current PEMFCs for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) drives up costs, hindering commercialization.
• Reducing PGM loading while ensuring efficiency and durability is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a novel catalyst structure that minimizes PGM loading for HDV PEMFCs.
• To enhance catalyst durability and performance through metal oxide-Pt interactions.
• To reduce the overall cost of PEMFC systems for heavy-duty applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized strong cerium oxide (CeO_x)-platinum (Pt) interactions to create a CeO_x@Pt catalyst structure.
• Tested the catalyst's performance and durability under conditions simulating HDV operation (90,000 accelerated-stress-test cycles).
• Evaluated fuel cell performance in terms of power density (kW/g_PGM) and stability (power retention).

Main Results:

• Achieved high fuel cell performance (8.8 kW/g_PGM) at a low PGM loading (0.1 mg_PGM/cm²).
• Demonstrated exceptional durability with over 90% power retention after rigorous testing.
• Showcased a potential cost reduction of over 70% in platinum cost for the M2FCT target, reaching $9/kW.

Conclusions:

• The CeO_x@Pt/C catalyst structure offers a viable solution for cost-effective and durable PEMFCs in HDVs.
• Exploiting metal oxide-Pt interactions is a promising strategy for reducing PGM loading in fuel cell catalysts.
• This advancement paves the way for the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transportation.