Noble Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel and Electrolysis Cells
Elena Savinova , University of Strasbourg, France
Last decades have evidenced significant advances in proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and electrolysis (PEMEC) technologies, both in terms of material and system developments. Nevertheless, commercial PEMFC and PEMEC systems rely on scarce and expensive platinum-group metals (Pt in PEMFC, Pt and Ir in PEMEC). Recent developments in the field of anion-exchange membranes (AEM) have switched focus of current research towards AEM-based fuel cell and electrolysis technologies (AEMFC and AEMEC), which are compatible with noble metal-free materials.
In this presentation we will discuss electrocatalysis of the anode and cathode reactions on noble metal-free materials. For the oxygen electrode we will focus on transition metal oxides, while for the hydrogen electrode – on Ni-based electrode materials. We will show how combining electrochemical methods with kinetic modeling, operando spectroscopies and quantum chemical calculations allows one to advance the understanding of electrocatalysis. We will finish the presentation by discussing challenges for the development of noble metal-free electrocatalysts for AEMFCs and AEMECs.