FeNxC Based Catalysts Prepared by the Calcination of Iron-Ethylenediamine@Polyaniline as the Cathode-Catalyst of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

oleh: Yen-Zen Wang, Wen-Yao Huang, Tar-Hwa Hsieh, Li-Cheng Jheng, Ko-Shan Ho, Sin-Wei Huang, Liang Chao

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-08-01

Deskripsi

Calcinated tris(ethylenediamine)iron(III) chloride was used as a non-precious metal catalyst (NPMCs) for a proton exchanged membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under the protection of polyaniline (PANI), which behaves as both nitrogen source and carbon supporter. The optimal ratio of FeCl<sub>3</sub>/EDA was found to be close to 1/3 under the consideration of the electrocatalytic performance, such as better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and higher power density. Two-stage calcination, one at 900 &#176;C in N<sub>2</sub> and the other at 800 &#176;C in mixed gases of N<sub>2</sub> and NH<sub>3</sub>, result in an FeNxC catalyst (FeNC-900-800-A) with pretty high specific surface area of 1098 m<sup>2</sup>&#183;g<sup>&#8722;1</sup> covered with both micro- and mesopores. The ORR active sites focused mainly on Fe&#8722;Nx bonding made of various pyridinic, pyrrolic, and graphitic N-s after calcination. The max. power density reaches 140 mW&#183;cm<sup>&#8722;2</sup> for FeNC-900-800-A, which is superior to other FeNxC catalysts, experiencing only one-stage calcination in N<sub>2</sub>. The FeNxC demonstrates only 10 mV half-wave-voltage (HWV) loss at 1600 rpm after 1000 redox cycles, as compared to be 27 mV for commercial Pt/C catalyst in the durability test.