Biologically inspired highly durable iron phthalocyanine catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
In the present work, we have designed and synthesized a new highly durable iron phtalocyanine based nonprecious oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst (Fe-SPc) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The Fe-SPc, with a novel structure inspired by that of naturally occurring oxygen activation catalysts, is prepared by a nonpyrolyzing method, allowing adequate control of the atomic structure and surface properties of the material. Significantly improved ORR stability of the Fe-SPc is observed compared with the commercial Fe-Pc catalysts. The Fe-SPc has similar activity to that of the commercial Fe-Pc initially, while the Fe-SPc displays 4.6 times higher current density than that of the commercial Fe-Pc after 10 sweep potential cycles, and a current density that is 7.4 times higher after 100 cycles. This has been attributed to the incorporation of electron-donating functional groups, along with a high degree of steric hindrance maintaining active site isolation. Nonprecious Fe-SPc is promising as a potential alternative ORR electrocatalyst for PEMFCs.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
Wenmu
W
Li
Aiping
A
Yu
Drew C
DC
Higgins
Bernard G
BG
Llanos
Zhongwei
Z
Chen
D032701:Biomimetics; D002384:Catalysis; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D004573:Electrolytes; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007211:Indoles; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; C493990:iron phthalocyanine; D010100:Oxygen