Non-platinum cathode catalysts for alkaline membrane fuel cells

Hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells using an alkaline anion exchange membrane were prepared and evaluated. Various non-platinum catalyst materials were investigated by fabricating membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) using Tokuyama membrane (# A201) and compared with commercial noble metal catalysts. Co and Fe phthalocyanine catalyst materials were synthesized using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as support materials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study was conducted in order to examine the surface composition. The electroreduction of oxygen has been investigated on Fe phthalocyanine/MWCNT, Co phthalocyanine/MWCNT and commercial Pt/C catalysts. The oxygen reduction reaction kinetics on these catalyst materials were evaluated using rotating disk electrodes in 0.1 M KOH solution and the current density values were consistently higher for Co phthalocyanine based electrodes compared to Fe phthalocyanine. The fuel cell performance of the MEAs with Co and Fe phthalocyanines and Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Pt/C cathode catalysts were 100, 60 and 120 mW cm−2 using H2 and O2 gases.

► Carbon nanotube supported Co and Fe phthalocyanine were used as catalysts for O2 reduction.
► Alkaline membrane fuel cell perfromance was evaluated and compared with noble metal catalysts using Tokuyama A201 membrane.
► CoPc/MWCNT catalyst showed a higher electrocatalytic activity for ORR than FePc/MWCNT.