Hybrid oxygen reduction electrocatalysts based on conducting polymers for low-temperature fuel cells

Area of applications

Non-precious metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) nanocomposite electrocatalysts may be used in low-temperature hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (FCs), including proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).

Brief description

Hybrid oxygen reduction electrocatalysts based on conducting polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline, their substituted analogues) and d-metals (cobalt, iron) that do not contain platinum or other precious metals, but may be effective for use in low-temperature hydrogen-oxygen FCs, including PMFCs, owing to a joint catalytic effect of different components (conducting polymer, transition metal, dopant, specific enzyme, carbon support, including nanostructured).

Expected results

Joint catalytic effect of different components of hybrid electrocatalysts;
low operating temperature of operation (<100°C);
high stability in acidic medium (or in acidic environment of the cathode during operation PMFCs);
high electrocatalytic activity in the neutral electrolyte that allows to enter active peroxidase as an additional component into such composite electrocatalysts for improving their functional characteristics.

Advantages

Low cost, due to the lack of platinum and other precious metals in composition of hybrid electrocatalysts;
functioning in aqueous electrolytes over a wide pH range (1-7) without significant degradation of the material associated with peroxidation; no pyrolysis stage in the electrocatalysts preparation.

Competitors

Research and development of non-precious metal composite electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction based on carbon supported conducting polymers and d-metals are carried out in research centers in the United States, China, Japan and some EU countries.

Project development

The methods for obtaining of a number of hybrid composites based on conducting polymers, cobalt and highly dispersed carbon supports are developed; their basic physical-chemical properties are studied.
Preliminary results of their functional characteristics as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts (in acidic and neutral electrolytes) for low temperature FCs are obtained.

Intellectual property

The filing of the application for a Ukrainian patent for invention is planned.

Contact information

Executor: L.V. Pysarzhevsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Project №6 “Development of the fundamentals of new nanostructured systems for the processes of electrochemical hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction for fuel cells”

Contact person:

Dr. Yaroslav Kurys

tel. +380(44)-525-75-77

Е-mail:kurys@inphyschem-nas.kiev.ua