Fuel Cell Development with Non-Precious Metal Catalysts

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are clean energy sources which are offering solutions to some problems that are caused by climate change and global warming. One of the biggest obstacles in the way of development of PEM fuel cells is the high price of the Pt catalyst; this makes up a large percent of the total cost of the fuel cell. Our research group achieves high fuel cell performance using non-precious, Fe-CNT-PA. This new catalyst can make PEM fuel cells more commercial in future applications. This research tests fuel cell performance using this new catalyst and compares it to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. We propose that Fe-CNT-PA has a good catalytic activity as the PT catalyst. The results of the fuel cell test shows the performance is close to commercial cathode material activity, but more research is necessary to advance the performance of the non-precious catalyst.