«Development of scientific bases for hydrogen production, storage and use in autonomous energy supply systems»

Development of oxygen reduction hybrid electrocatalysts based on carbonized nanostructured organic conjugated polymers for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells

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TEM-micrograph of Co₂S₈/Со-N-C oxygen reduction electrocatalyst, obtained using poly-2,6-diaminopyridine, (a) and dependences of electron number (n), taking part in ORR, and hydrogen peroxide yield from potential in 0,5 M H₂SO₄ (b).

Area of application

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts for low temperature hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (FC), including a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells (SPEFC). The possibility of using the obtained materials: as electrocatalysts in direct alcohol fuel cells and metal–air batteries, as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting, as heterogeneous catalyst for organic chemistry are assumed..

Brief description

Carbonized cobalt- and iron-containing ORR hybrid electrocatalysts (i.e. noble metals free electrocatalysts effective in acidic and alkaline electrolytes) derived from nanostructured nitrogen-containing conjugated polymers; electrocatalysts with a high surface area, including one with nanoparticles of sulfides, carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides Co and Fe in their composition.

Expected results

It is assumed that the obtained ORR electrocatalysts will be characterized by potentials of catalytic current appearance (Eonset) > 850 mV, vs. RHE (Fe-containing) and > 800 mV (Co-containing), high stability during long-term operation in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, as well as high tolerance to CO and methanol.

Advantages

Low cost due to the absence of platinum and other precious metals in the electrocatalysts composition;
high area of the electrochemically active surface;
tolerance to methanol and CO; the ability to operating in aqueous electrolytes in a wide pH range.

Competitors

As far as we know, the carbonized cobalt- and iron-containing hybrid ORR electrocatalysts for FC are not commercialized today. Research in this field is being conducted in research centers in several EU countries, USA, China, Japan, etc.

State of development

Using poly-2,6-diaminopyridine and multilayered graphene it was obtained carbonized Co₉S₈/Со-N-C electrocatalyst for ORR, which is able to function effectively in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, provide preferable direct 4-electron reduction of oxygen to water and high tolerance to CO and methanol. It was shown functional advantages of Co-N-C electrocatalysts for ORR due to using during their formation of polyaniline (PANi), nanostructured by β-cyclodextrin or poly-o-aminobenzoic acid, instead of traditional PANi. It was obtained Co-N,В-C electrocatalysts for ORR using PANi doped with boric acid or nanostructured poly-3-aminophenylboric acid as carbon, nitrogen and boron source simultaneously.

Contact information

Institute- Executor: L.V.Pysarzhevsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Project 19 «Development of oxygen reduction hybrid electrocatalysts based on carbonized nanostructured organic conjugated polymers for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells»

Project leader:

Tel. +380 44 525-75-77

Е-mail: kurys@inphyschem-nas.kiev.ua