Electrostatic Landscape Design for Ionomer Adhesion and Poison‐Resistant Platinum Catalysis in Fuel Cells

L Lei Huang (BLSA-ZJU Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) H Huiting Niu (State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) Wuhan 430074 China) Z Zifan Tan (School of Chemistry Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry‐Education Integration of Energy Storage Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 China) R Ruijuan Qi (Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices (MOE), Department of Electronics) B Bingbao Mei F Fei Song (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute) H Ho Seok Park (School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066, Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419, Republic of Korea) M Ming Zhao Y Yaqiong Su (Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education School of Chemistry) B Bao Yu Xia (State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract Uneven ionomer distribution and sulfonate groups (–SO 3 – ) poisoning at platinum (Pt) sites significantly impede Pt utilization and local mass transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, we report an electrostatic landscape design on nanocarbon supports that harnesses strong and uniform ionomer adhesion to create a poison‐resistant Pt interface, effectively mitigating direct poisoning of Pt sites by –SO 3 – groups and enhancing active sites accessibility and local mass transport. The resulting PtFe/FN‐C catalyst exhibits an exceptionally low ionomer coverage of only 6.4%, enabling a peak power density of 1.39 W cm −2 and an oxygen transport resistance of only 44.5 s m −1 in PEMFC testing. Furthermore, it demonstrates impressive durability, with only a 2 mV voltage loss after 30 000 cycles at 0.8 A cm −2 . This work establishes a new principle for interface engineering where overall polymer‐support adhesion governs local catalyst‐functional group interactions, offering a general strategy for designing high‐performance, poison‐resistant electrocatalysts for energy conversion technologies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 1
Published January 02, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

L

Lei Huang

BLSA-ZJU Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

H

Huiting Niu

State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) Wuhan 430074 China

Z

Zifan Tan

School of Chemistry Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry‐Education Integration of Energy Storage Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 China

R

Ruijuan Qi

Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices (MOE), Department of Electronics

B

Bingbao Mei

F

Fei Song

Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute

H

Ho Seok Park

School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066, Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419, Republic of Korea

M

Ming Zhao

Y

Yaqiong Su

Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education School of Chemistry

B

Bao Yu Xia

State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering