PGM‐Free Cathode Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells: A Mini‐Review on Stability Challenges
Abstract
In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the development of platinum group metal‐free (PGM‐free) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. At the same time the limited durability of these catalysts remains a great challenge that needs to be addressed. This mini‐review summarizes the recent progress in understanding the main causes of instability of PGM‐free ORR catalysts in acidic environments, focusing on transition metal/nitrogen codoped systems (M‐N‐C catalysts, M: Fe, Co, Mn), particularly MNx moiety active sites. Of several possible degradation mechanisms, demetalation and carbon oxidation are found to be the most likely reasons for M‐N‐C catalysts/cathodes degradation.
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For high-performing Fe-N-C catalysts, demetallation and carbon corrosion may be the most likely degradation mechanisms.
“For the high-performing Fe-N-C catalysts, demetallation and carbon corrosion may be the most likely degradation mechanisms [48].”
From Recent Advances on PEM Fuel Cells: From Key Materials to Membrane Electrode Assembly (2023) · cites this paper as [48]
Cites
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“C catalyst has presented superior ORR activity to Pt-based catalysts; however, it remains less competitive than Pt in terms of activity and stability in acidic media, i.e., in PEM fuel cells [48–50].”
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- Authors
- Shao, Y., Dodelet, J., Wu, G., & Zelenay, P.
- Affiliations
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US)
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (CA)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- Venue
- Advanced Materials
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-02-19
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 31
- Pages
- e1807615-e1807615
- ISSN
- 0935-9648 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-4095
- OpenAlex
- W2916606343
- Cited by
- 553
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 92 · 2022: 98 · 2021: 111 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 38
- FWCI
- 3.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Advanced Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Innovationsfonden (4106‐00012B)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Fuel Cells and Related Materials
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Catalytic Processes in Materials Science
- Keywords
- PGM-free catalysts, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, catalyst stability, M-N-C catalysts, demetallation, carbon oxidation, acid degradation, Mn-based catalysts, Co-based catalysts, Fe-based catalysts
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