Activity benchmarks and requirements for Pt, Pt-alloy, and non-Pt oxygen reduction catalysts for PEMFCs

Hubert A. Gasteiger, Shyam S. Kocha, Bhaskar Sompalli, Frederick T. Wagner

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4553 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mass production of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel-cell-powered light-duty vehicles requires a reduction in the amount of Pt presently used in fuel cells. This paper quantifies the activities and voltage loss modes for state-of-the-art MEAs (membrane electrode assemblies), specifies performance goals needed for automotive application, and provides benchmark oxygen reduction activities for state-of-the-art platinum electrocatalysts using two different testing procedures to clearly establish the relative merit of candidate catalysts. A pathway to meet the automotive goals is charted, involving the further development of durable, high-activity Pt-alloy catalysts. The history, status in recent experiments, and prospects for Pt-alloy cathode catalysts are reviewed. The performance that would be needed for a cost-free non-Pt catalyst is defined quantitatively, and the behaviors of several published non-Pt catalyst systems (and logical extensions thereof), are compared to these requirements. Critical research topics are listed for the Pt-alloy catalysts, which appear to represent the most likely route to automotive fuel cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9-35
Number of pages27
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume56
Issue number1-2 SPEC. ISS.
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Mar 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Non-platinum catalysts
  • Oxygen reduction catalysts
  • PEFC
  • Particle size effect
  • Platinum-cobalt catalyst
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Activity benchmarks and requirements for Pt, Pt-alloy, and non-Pt oxygen reduction catalysts for PEMFCs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this