MESSAI.iO

AI summary

70% confidence

A cost-effective catalyst support material, nitrogen-rich carbon nanostructure (NCNS), was synthesized and used to support a palladium-alloy based electrocatalyst, Pd3Co/NCNS, as a potential alternative to expensive Pt-based electrocatalysts. The NCNS exhibited high surface area and tubular morphology, enhancing the electrochemical activity of the prepared nanocomposite. The Pd-based bimetallic alloy dispersed on NCNS showed high activity towards both oxidation of hydrogen and reduction of oxygen in acidic medium.

Generated by MESSAI extraction pipeline · review against source PDF

Generic MFCRepresentative model
Click to animate flow
loading 3D model…

Representative MFC — matched on the paper’s system type only, not its reactor or geometry.

Extraction

Reported parameters

11 extracted values

View extracted values

Open in lab for full controls, parameter editing, and template overlays.

Open in lab →

What they did

System
MFC

What worked

No outcome metrics extracted yet.

Abstract

One of the effective ways to increase the electrocatalytic activity of carbon based electrocatalyst in a fuel cell is by in-situ incorporation of heteroatom into the carbon nanostructure. Herein, a cost effective catalyst support material, nitrogen rich carbon nanostructure (NCNS) with high surface area and tubular morphology was synthesized. NCNS supported palladium-alloy based electrocatalyst (Pd 3 Co/NCNS) was successfully prepared and used on both sides of a fuel cell as potential alternative to expensive Pt-based electrocatalysts. The large number of nitrogen-carbon moieties present in NCNS served as anchoring sites for catalyst nanoparticles. Moreover, the tubular morphology and high surface area plays an important role in enhanced electrochemical activity of the prepared nanocomposite. The Pd-based bimetallic alloy dispersed on NCNS exhibited high activity towards both oxidation of hydrogen and reduction of oxygen in acidic medium. Thus, a fully Pt-free electrocatalyst was constructed using a cost effective electrocatalyst. The peak power density achieved using Pd 3 Co/NCNS at both anode and cathode simultaneously was found to be almost 25 % of the maximum power density attained using commercial Pt/C on both sides, which is the maximum value reported so far in PEMFC without using Pt on either side.

Key findings

  • High electrocatalytic activity of Pd3Co/NCNS in fuel cell applications
  • Enhanced electrochemical activity due to tubular morphology and high surface area of NCNS
  • Fully Pt-free electrocatalyst with high peak power density achieved using Pd3Co/NCNS at both anode and cathode

Keywords

ElectrocatalystCatalysisChemical engineeringCarbon fibersBimetallic stripProton exchange membrane fuel cell

Identifiers

DOI
10.3762/bxiv.2020.10.v1
Journal
Unknown journal
Year
2020