Platinum Nanoparticle Decorated Expired Drug-Derived N-Doped Ketjenblack Carbon as Efficient Catalyst for PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) remain unaffordable in part due to the prohibitive cost of Platinum (Pt) catalyst. To make PEMFCs affordable, Pt needs to be partly or completely removed. Along with the development of environmentally friendly technologies, reducing environmental pollution is also necessary for the well-being of our society. With the increasing use of pharmaceutical drugs, their disposal after expiry causes enormous environmental and aquatic pollution. To tackle this pollution, we have converted expired Calpol drugs into catalyst support (NKBC), which not only supports Pt nanoparticles but also assists in the activation of O2 and H2. Using the Pt-dispersed NKBC catalyst, a PEMFC was demonstrated, where peak power density and fuel cell performance was found to be much higher than Pt/C due to better Pt utilization. This study paves the way to controlling pollution by converting the pollutant into excellent catalyst support.

Low-Temperature Synthesized Pt3Fe Alloy Nanoparticles on Etched Carbon Nanotubes Catalyst Support Using Oxygen-Deficient Fe2O3 as a Catalytic Center for PEMFC Applications

“…Also, because of the alloying of Fe with Pt, a significant shift in the hydrogen desorption potential from Pt/C to Pt 3 Fe-ECNT is observed . Improvement in the HOR activity of Pt 3 Fe-ECNT, relative to Pt/C, is ascribed to weak HBE interaction, compared to Pt; this suggests that the alloying of Pt with Fe metal can tune the HBE, which is responsible for better HOR activity.…”

“…ECSA for commercial Pt/C and Pt 3 Fe-ECNT-1 are calculated from the average charge density of hydrogen adsorption–desorption area ( H UPD ) from the CV recorded in N 2 -sat electrolyte solution using eq : ECSA = Q H L Q m where Q H is the average exchange charge density of the H UPD region, Q m = 0.21 mC cm –2 , L is the loading of Pt at the electrode ( L = 8 μg cm –2 ). The average ECSA for Pt/C and Pt 3 Fe-ECNT are 78 ± 3 m 2 g –1, and 84 ± 4 m 2 g –1 , respectively.…”

“…Oxidation/reduction peaks amid 0–0.3 V represent the desorption/adsorption of hydrogen on the catalyst surface. Prominent redox peaks of Pt 3 Fe-ECNT-1 correspond to the oxidative adsorption of hydrogen on Pt(100), and Pt(110) planes . Hydrogen adsorption/desorption peaks directly reflect the HBE and are usually employed to understand the HOR catalytic activity.…”

“…Also, because of the alloying of Fe with Pt, a significant shift in the hydrogen desorption potential from Pt/C to Pt 3 Fe-ECNT is observed. 38 Improvement in the HOR activity of Pt 3 Fe-ECNT, relative to Pt/C, is ascribed to weak HBE interaction, compared to Pt; this suggests that the alloying of Pt with Fe metal can tune the HBE, which is responsible for better HOR activity. XPS data obtained for the Pt 3 Fe-ECNT-1 indicates that the alloyed catalyst should exhibit better HOR kinetics due to the downward shift of the d-band center of Pt, which leads to weaker hydrogen adsorption, i.e., lower HBE, which corroborate well with the electrochemical observations.…”

“…Prominent redox peaks of Pt 3 Fe-ECNT-1 correspond to the oxidative adsorption of hydrogen on Pt(100), and Pt(110) planes. 38 Hydrogen adsorption/desorption peaks directly reflect the HBE and are usually employed to understand the HOR catalytic activity. HBE is proportional to hydrogen desorption peak potential measured from CV using eq 4:…”