Innovative Pt/TiO₂-Ov Catalyst Enhances Efficiency and Durability in PEMFC Applications
Key Ideas
- A novel Pt/TiO₂-Ov catalyst with oxygen vacancies (Ov) synthesized via a microwave-assisted method shows superior performance in hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions.
- The catalyst exhibits 1.24 times higher mass activity and exceptional CO tolerance compared to commercial Pt/C, along with excellent durability after accelerated durability tests.
- The study highlights the significance of strong metal-support interaction in improving long-term performance and CO poisoning resistance, offering a promising alternative to traditional carbon-supported catalysts for PEMFC applications.
Hydrogen fuel cells, particularly proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), are emerging as zero-emission power sources for electric vehicles. However, challenges like corrosion and contamination have hindered their efficiency. A recent study introduced a novel Pt/TiO₂-Ov catalyst enriched with oxygen vacancies to address these issues. The catalyst, synthesized using a unique microwave-assisted method, demonstrated superior performance in both hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. It exhibited higher mass activity and CO tolerance than commercial Pt/C, along with exceptional durability in accelerated tests. The research emphasizes the importance of a strong metal-support interaction in enhancing performance and resilience against CO poisoning. This breakthrough offers a promising alternative to conventional carbon-supported catalysts, paving the way for more efficient PEMFC applications. The study provides valuable insights into designing noble metal-loaded electrocatalysts with oxygen-rich reducible oxide supports for improved catalytic efficiency and CO poisoning resistance.