Catalyst for fuel cells replacing platinum

Catalyst for fuel cells replacing platinum.

 

 

Nano-sized solid solution of cobalt and iridium — new connection, catalyst for fuel cells. The connection is more stable and can serve as a substitute for more expensive catalyst – platinum.

 

Description

Advantages

 

Description:

Nano-sized solid solution of cobalt and iridium — new connection, catalyst for fuel cells and can serve as a replacement of platinum. The resulting compound is more stable than the current used catalysts.

The most important part of a fuel cell with solid-polymer electrolyte is a membrane coated with a catalyst. On one side of the membrane is supplied to the fuel (hydrogen, methanol, formic acid, etc.), on the other — air. Occurs at the anode the oxidation reaction of fuel delivered, and is transferred through the membrane positive charge. The cathode is a reduction reaction of oxygen to form water. Equal in magnitude to the current of negatively charged particles (electrons) goes through an external circuit, doing useful work (like turning on the lights or charge your phone). Fuel cells are highly efficient (50%) and unlimited time of usage with a continuous supply of fuel and oxidizer. However, for the occurrence of electrochemical reactions on the electrodes required a catalyst.

Widespread as the catalyst has received platinum. But in the process of using it is either being consolidated or dissolved and out of the reaction medium. The cost of electrodes containing platinum, is more than 70% of the cost of a fuel cell. Therefore, there is a task to reduce the cost of fuel cells by replacing platinum with other materials.

This material is nano-sized solid solution of metals of cobalt and iridium.

Iridium on average two times cheaper than platinum. By adding into solution of base metal of cobalt, the cost of the catalyst is further reduced. In addition, manifests a synergistic effect — the efficiency of the catalyst increases due to merging of separate parts into a single system. Cobalt-iridium alloy works the same as platinum, and we have the same efficiency but with lower cost and longer service life.

 

Advantages:

– low cost

longer service life

– significantly reduces the cost of fuel cells.