Because the cleanest renewable power, hydrogen power has attracted particular consideration in latest analysis. But the commercialization of conventional proton alternate membrane gas cells (PEMFCs), which eat hydrogen and produce electrical energy, is significantly restricted as a result of chemical response of PEMFCs cathode largely reliying on costly platinum-based catalysts.
An answer is to vary the acidic electrolyte of PEMFCs to alkaline. Such gas cells are known as anion alternate membrane gas cells (AEMFCs), they usually permit for using cheaper steel parts like Co, Ni or Mn to design electrocatalysts.
The analysis staff led by Prof. Gao Minrui from College of Science and Expertise of China (USTC) adopted this answer and developed a sensible and scalable solution to manufacture a novel Ni-W-Cu alloy, Ni5.2WCu2.2, because the cathode for AEMFCs. The outcome was revealed on Nature Communications.
The staff first grew Cu(OH)2 nanowires from a three-dimensional foam copper skeleton by anodic oxidation. The obtained nanowires had been then immersed in an answer containing Ni and W parts. After hydrothermal synthesis and annealing, the Ni-W-Cu alloy was produced.
The ternary Ni5.2WCu2.2 alloy can catalyze the oxidation of hydrogen in alkaline medium 4.31 instances extra environment friendly than the benchmark platinum/carbon anode.
It has an oxidation potential as excessive as 0.3V as compared with the reversible hydrogen electrode and may preserve excessive exercise for as much as 20h beneath such overpotential, continuing anodes primarily based on non-platinum-group metals.
The alloy catalyst additionally confirmed wonderful resistance to CO poisoning, and maintained excessive exercise in 20000 ppm CO/H2 combined environment.
Evaluation confirmed that the projected density of states of Ni5.2WCu2.2 alloy lies within the lowest Fermi degree, which signifies that the alloy has the optimum hydrogen binding power. The multiple-element alloying impact renders the Ni-based alloy a excessive exercise catalyst and gives oxidation resistance.
This work sheds mild on additional exploration of multiple-element alloys composed of low-cost metals, thereby aiding the event of extra environment friendly hydrogen oxidation catalysts for AEMFC anodes.
AI looked for single-atom-alloy catalysts, discovered 200 promising candidates
Shuai Qin et al, Ternary nickel–tungsten–copper alloy rivals platinum for catalyzing alkaline hydrogen oxidation, Nature Communications (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22996-2
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Low-cost alloy rivals costly platinum to spice up gas cells (2021, Might 28)
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