Tandem Catalysis for pH‐Universal Hydrogen Oxidation in Fuel Cells
Abstract
ABSTRACT Minimizing platinum‐group metal (PGM) usage in anion‐exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is essential for cost reduction. However, achieving power densities exceeding 1 W cm −2 requires high PGM loadings at the anode, particularly in AEMFCs (>0.1 mg cm −2 ), to sustain hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics. Nickel‐based catalysts offer a low‐cost alternative but are typically limited by poor activity and oxidative instability. Here, we address these limitations by developing a core–shell nanoreactor comprising Ni nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated by N‐doped graphitic carbon (NC) that is embedded with atomic Ru and Ni species. With an ultralow Ru loading of 1 µg cm −2 , anodes using this catalyst deliver peak power densities of 2.36 and 3.26 W cm −2 in AEMFC and PEMFC, respectively, with negligible structure change after 200 h of continuous operation at 1 A cm −2 in both devices. Mechanistic studies in alkaline media reveal a tandem catalytic pathway in which NPs shielded from the electrolyte dissociate H 2 to H*, and adjacent atomic metal species enable H* spillover across the NC shell to react with surface‐anchored OH*. This work provides a general strategy for designing tandem electrocatalysts for multi‐step catalytic processes.
Article Details
Authors (15)
Wenquan Wang
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China
Xiaohui Deng
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China
De‐Chang Li
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China
Zhengbin Tian
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China
Qian Zhang
Jo‐Chi Tseng
Facility for Analysis Characterization Testing and Simulation (FACTS) Nanyang Technological University Singapore Singapore
Wenqi Liu
Yingchao Shang
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China
Yu‐Cheng Shao
Experimental Facility Division/SPring‐8 Group National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center Hsinchu Taiwan
Hirofumi Ishii
National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
Markus Ostermann
Christian M. Pichler
Kun Chen
Heqing Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy, Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology
Guang‐Hui Wang
State Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Conversion and Utilization of Solar Energy Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China