The new catalyst solves the durability problem of hydrogen fuel vehicles

The new catalyst solves the durability problem of hydrogen fuel vehicles

When the bicycle gets wet from the rain, the frame and chain will be corroded or rusted, thereby shortening the life of the bicycle. It is necessary to apply oil regularly to prevent this from happening. A fuel cell is a device that generates electricity by moving electrons to trigger oxidation and reduction reactions respectively. But they are also corroded when exposed to oxygen. Can these batteries be lubricated to prevent rust?

The research team led by Professor Yong-Tae Kim and PhD student Sang Moon Jung of POSTECH University in South Korea used a catalyst (Pt/HxWO3) that combines platinum and hydrogen tungsten alloy to solve hydrogen fuel Corrosion in the fuel cell when the car is stopped. This catalyst, recently introduced in the sister magazine Nature Catalysis, has been shown to promote hydrogen oxidation and selectively inhibit the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

With the popularity of environmentally-friendly hydrogen-powered vehicles, the core of hydrogen-fueled vehicles-the research and development competition to improve the performance of fuel cells is becoming increasingly fierce around the world. Compared with the fuel cell will not stop operation once it is started, the performance of the automobile fuel cell will be greatly reduced due to its intermittent shutdown. This is because when the ignition is turned off, an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurs due to the temporary introduction of air into the anode, and with the instantaneous increase of the cathode potential, the corrosion of the cathode components will also accelerate.

The research team focused on the metal insulator transition (MIT) phenomenon, which can selectively change the conductivity of the material according to the surrounding environment to solve the problem of durability degradation of automotive fuel cells.

The research team paid particular attention to tungsten oxide (WO3), which has traditionally been used as an electronic color-changing material because it greatly changes the conductivity by inserting and reducing protons. In normal work, the MIT phenomenon of WO3 is used, by inserting a proton, the electrode reaction is generated while maintaining the state of H-WO3 (conductor). When the ignition stops, the mixed air is introduced to increase the oxygen pressure and become WO3 (sub-conductor) to stop the electrode reaction and solve the problem of cathode corrosion.

The Pt/HxWO3 selective hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst produced by the metal insulator transition (MIT) phenomenon has been shown in the MEA evaluation of automotive fuel cells: its durability in the shutdown state is the two of conventional commercial Pt/C catalytic materials Times more.

Professor Yong-Tae Kim, who led the research, commented: “This research has greatly improved the durability of automotive fuel cells.” He added: “These research results are expected to further promote the commercialization of hydrogen fuel vehicles.”

This research was supported by the Future Materials Discovery Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea and the Hydrogen Energy Innovation Technology Development Program.

(Original from: Postech China New Energy Network)

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