High-performance ionomerless cathode anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with ultra-low-loading Ag–Pd alloy electrocatalysts

John C. Douglin, José A. Zamora Zeledón, Melissa E. Kreider, Ramesh K. Singh, Michaela Burke Stevens (), Thomas F. Jaramillo () and Dario R. Dekel ()
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John C. Douglin: Technion–Israel Institute of Technology
José A. Zamora Zeledón: Stanford University
Melissa E. Kreider: Stanford University
Ramesh K. Singh: Technion–Israel Institute of Technology
Michaela Burke Stevens: SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Thomas F. Jaramillo: Stanford University
Dario R. Dekel: Technion–Israel Institute of Technology

Nature Energy, 2023, vol. 8, issue 11, 1262-1272

Abstract: Abstract Rapid translation of catalysts from fundamental studies to high-performance devices could facilitate the development and commercialization of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Traditionally, translation from material screening in three-electrode rotating disk electrode cells to AEMFCs is complicated by differences in microenvironments, for example, solid ionomer/membrane vs liquid electrolyte. Here we introduce a platform for translation to devices that utilizes ionomerless ultra-low-loading Ag–Pd alloy electrocatalyst cathodes synthesized by co-physical vapour deposition. Our ionomerless cathodes allow for systematic H2–O2 AEMFC experiments while demonstrating comparable activity trends to those in three-electrode cells. Furthermore, we show that our Ag10Pd90-based AEMFC reaches a peak power density of ∼1 W $${\rm{cm}}_{\rm{geo}}^{-2}$$ cm geo − 2 (geometric area basis) and ∼10 W $${\rm{mg}}_{\rm{PGM}\; \rm{Cathode}}^{-1}$$ mg PGM Cathode − 1 , satisfying the US Department of Energy’s platinum group metal (PGM) loading and cost targets. Our approach shows promise in facilitating the rapid translation between three-electrode studies and AEMFCs, offering a simple and effective design for decreasing PGM loadings.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01385-7

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