Boosting Fuel Cell Performance with Accessible Carbon Mesopores

Yarlagadda, Venkata; Carpenter, Michael K.; Moylan, Thomas E.; Kukreja, Ratandeep S.; Koestner, R. J.; Gu, Wenbin; Thompson, Levi T.; Kongkanand, Anusorn

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.8b00186

Cited by 444 publications

(493 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In addition to the intrinsic activity and the density of SACs, mass transport properties are crucial for overall catalyst performance . Different types of pores play different roles in MN x based electrocatalysts.…”

Section: Innovative Synthesis Of Sacs On Carbon Substratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering Local Coordination Environments of Atomically Dispersed and Heteroatom‐Coordinated Single Metal Site Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy‐Conversion

Zhu

Sokolowski

Song

et al. 2019

Advanced Energy Materials

268

231

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Carbon‐based heteroatom‐coordinated single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are promising candidates for energy‐related electrocatalysts because of their low‐cost, tunable catalytic activity/selectivity, and relatively homogeneous morphologies. Unique interactions between single metal sites and their surrounding coordination environments play a significant role in modulating the electronic structure of the metal centers, leading to unusual scaling relationships, new reaction mechanisms, and improved catalytic performance. This review summarizes recent advancements in engineering of the local coordination environment of SACs for improved electrocatalytic performance for several crucial energy‐convention electrochemical reactions: oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, CO2 reduction reaction, and nitrogen reduction reaction. Various engineering strategies including heteroatom‐doping, changing the location of SACs on their support, introducing external ligands, and constructing dual metal sites are comprehensively discussed. The controllable synthetic methods and the activity enhancement mechanism of state‐of‐the‐art SACs are also highlighted. Recent achievements in the electronic modification of SACs will provide an understanding of the structure–activity relationship for the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts.

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Section: Innovative Synthesis Of Sacs On Carbon Substratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering Local Coordination Environments of Atomically Dispersed and Heteroatom‐Coordinated Single Metal Site Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy‐Conversion

Zhu

Sokolowski

Song

et al. 2019

Advanced Energy Materials

268

231

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“…Porous materials can be divided into microporous (pore size less than 2 nm), mesoporous (pore size 2–50 nm) and macroporous (pore size greater than 50 nm) materials. Porous materials usually have large surface area, which could afford much more active sites and facilitate the mass/charge transfer during the electrocatalytic process ,. Therefore, 3D porous M−N−C materials also have excellent electrocatalytic activity for ORR .…”

Section: D Metal‐nitrogen‐carbon Materials For the Oxygen Reduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Porous materials usually have large surface area, which could afford much more active sites and facilitate the mass/charge transfer during the electrocatalytic process. [54,[184][185][186][187] Therefore, 3D porous MÀ NÀ C materials also have excellent electrocatalytic activity for ORR. [188][189][190][191] Among all methods in constructing pores, the templating method is a powerful strategy.…”

Section: D Metal-nitrogen-carbon Materials For the Oxygen Reduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Electrocatalyst Morphology for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

2019

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Proton/anion‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC and AEMFC), generating electricity from the H2 energy with zero‐carbon emission, have become very promising energy conversion devices to meet the increasing energy demand and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Currently, platinum (Pt) based materials have proven to be the most efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode of the PEMFC and AEMFC. However, the high price and the limited reserve of Pt greatly hinder their industrial applications. Recently, transition metal‐nitrogen‐carbon (M−N−C) based material, as an efficient alternative to replace the precious metal Pt‐based material, has attracted researchers’ attention. Great contributions have been devoted to develop M−N−C based electrocatalysts. This review summarizes recent advances on M−N−C based electrocatalysts used for ORR from the point view of morphology. One‐dimensional (1D), two‐dimensional (2D), three‐dimensional (3D) and multi‐dimensional (MD) M−N−C materials were discussed thoroughly with particular attention on the relationship between the structure and the catalytic activity.

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“…The output power density of any fuel cell is largely determined by the components used in fuel cell stack assembly, which in turn decides the various losses borne by the cell in its due course of time . Other factors leading to the gradual performance loss in fuel cells are associated with (i) loss in catalyst activity because of agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles, (ii) catalyst dissolution, (iii) catalyst poisoning by impure reactant gases, (iv) corrosion of carbon black, (v) membrane degradation, etc …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 Other factors leading to the gradual performance loss in fuel cells are associated with (i) loss in catalyst activity because of agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles, (ii) catalyst dissolution, (iii) catalyst poisoning by impure reactant gases, (iv) corrosion of carbon black, (v) membrane degradation, etc. 9,10 Nonetheless, fuel cell technology has ample potential owing to its varied kinds 3,11 that cover almost the entire spectrum of human applications. The fuel cell are classified based upon the temperature of operation and the fuel used, which in turn defines the various characteristic specifications it has and its area of usage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of matrix content on the performance of carbon paper as an electrode for PEMFC

et al. 2019

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Summary Porous conducting carbon fiber‐based composite paper is used as an electrode backing in the fuel cell assembly. It not only acts as a channel through which the reactant and product gases pass to and from the bipolar plate and the catalyst site but also helps in the flow of electrons. In order to perform its role efficiently, it should have sufficient strength, high electrical conductivity, and ideal porous structure. Carbon paper has been fabricated, which builds up the required composite properties. Studies have been conducted to optimize the fiber/matrix ratio in the carbon paper, while ensuring the perfect combination of porosity, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity for an electrode in a proton electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Detail physico‐mechanical and electrochemical characterizations further ascertain that the fiber/matrix ratio plays an important role in tuning the composite properties. The polarization curve of the unit proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (with an effective electrode area 4 cm2) shows a peak power density of 916 mW/cm2 for the sample with fiber/matrix ratio of 65:35, which is almost the same as the commercially available sigracet gas diffusion layer (SGL) carbon paper tested under similar conditions. Further, proportionally enlarging the electrode area to 100 cm2 shows that the carbon paper not only shows almost repeatable results in a given set up but also scales up.

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Boosting Fuel Cell Performance with Accessible Carbon Mesopores

Abstract: Experimental section, discussion on high current density and heat rejection limit, and physical and electrochemical properties of different carbon supports (PDF)

Cited by 444 publications

References 29 publications

Engineering Local Coordination Environments of Atomically Dispersed and Heteroatom‐Coordinated Single Metal Site Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy‐Conversion

Engineering Local Coordination Environments of Atomically Dispersed and Heteroatom‐Coordinated Single Metal Site Electrocatalysts for Clean Energy‐Conversion

Importance of Electrocatalyst Morphology for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Effect of matrix content on the performance of carbon paper as an electrode for PEMFC

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