Low Platinum Carbon Nanotube Electrocatalyst for PEM Fuel Cells Project at IIT Madras

Development of low-Pt loaded carbon nanotube based electrocatalyst for hydrogen based proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

Objective

• Need 1: To design a corrosion resistant durable heteroatom doped carbon nanotubes (CNT) support. Need 2: To disperse Pt/Pt-alloy NPs decoration on the heteroatom doped modified CNT. Need 3: To achieve a maximum power density of 1 W/cm? at a very low total Pt loading with enhanced chemisorptions of oxygen species leading to higher Pt utilization, which will lead to a DOE target of 0.125 mgPt/cm?. Need 4: To design the cell to ensure high durability PEMFCs and the scale up process.

Description

• Our execution strategy incorporates proven methodologies, extremely qualified personnel, and a highly responsive approach to managing deliverables. Design a corrosion resistant durable heteroatom doped carbon nanotubes (CNT) support. Disperse a Pt/Pt-alloy NPs decoration on heteroatom doped modified CNT. Achieve a maximum power density 1 W/cm? at a very low total Pt loading with enhanced chemisorptions of oxygen species leading to higher Pt utilization which will lead to a DOE target of 0.125 mgPt/cm?. Design the cell to ensure high durability PEMFCs and the scale up process.

Impact

• The main drawback for commercialization of fuel cells is the high cost of the catalyst, which is 51% of the PEMFC cost. Therefore, lowering the Pt loading with high Pt utilization is essential for affordable future technologies. This project aims at the development of a novel electrocatalyst to derive a maximum power density 1W/cm? at Pt loading of 0.125 mgPt/cm? (US Department of energy (DOE) 2020 target loading) to reduce the cost of the catalyst needed in a PEMFC to ~30%.