A Review on Metal-Free Doped Carbon Materials Used as Oxygen Reduction Catalysts in Solid Electrolyte Proton Exchange Fuel Cells

作者：Klingele M; Van Pham C; Fischer A; Thiele S

来源：Fuel Cells, 2016, 16(5): 522-529.

DOI：10.1002/fuce.201600113

• Carbon
• Catalysis
• Cathode
• Fuel Cells
• Heteroatom-Doped
• Metal-Free
• Oxygen Reduction

Within the last decade, metal-free heteroatom doped carbon nanomaterials have gained attention as effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in many electrochemical systems. Since then, reports have stated that the ORR catalytic activity, onset potential, and H2O production selectivity of these materials is similar to that of platinum-based catalysts. These statements rely on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disc electrode (RDE) measurements in liquid alkaline electrolyte. However, fuel cell researchers aim to replace the costly platinum catalysts in the more prominent acidic solid electrolyte proton exchange fuel cell (PEFC). In this respect, there are only a few reports of unpromising activity, stability, and H2O production selectivity. In addition, only few reports have been presented on the implementation of such materials in cathode catalyst layers of actual PEFC devices. This mini-review aims to summarize and evaluate results of these reports. Material synthesis, cell power, open circuit voltage, stability properties, and proposed active sites are reviewed. To date, the highest reported PEFC power densities with guaranteed metal-free heteroatom doped carbon cathode catalysts have reached up to 321 mW cm(-2); which although a promising value is substantially short of values obtained for platinum based catalysts.

• 出版日期2016-10