China's PEM fuel cell breakthrough reduces platinum use and boosts power with a COF-enhanced catalyst layer

• Researchers in China have dramatically reduced platinum consumption to improve the efficiency of PEM fuel cells.

• The commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells could be accelerated by a breakthrough catalyst layer based on COF.

Chinese scientists have developed an innovative catalyst layer that reduces the resistance to oxygen transfer and minimises power loss. The new method uses triazine-based COFs to achieve a 38% reduction of oxygen resistance. The device delivers a power density of 1,55 W/cm2 with a platinum load of only 0.05 mg_Pt/cm2.

This research was published in Angewandte Chemie and represents an important advance in the long-standing bottlenecks of PEMFCs. It addresses oxygen flow limitations, especially at high currents. The COF allows oxygen to flow straight through the catalyst surface, increasing efficiency.

One materials scientist who was not involved with the study said, "This type of nano-confined approach to interface represents a novel engineering paradigm." It's all about getting the membrane, catalyst and gas to work together, not at odds.

This discovery is in line with China's ambition to become carbon-neutral by 2060. This improved catalyst layer increases PEMFC's power density by approximately 1.3-times compared with conventional designs, and also reduces the dependency on rare-earth materials.

The innovative COF technology is not only promising for fuel cells but also other electrochemical uses, such as electrolyzers or ammonia production. This approach reduces the demand on infrastructure by requiring less compression and humidity, which is especially useful for areas with challenging climate conditions.

Scalability and durability are the key questions. The industry is closely watching the developments and anticipating possible commercial applications in two to three year, particularly on markets such as Asia and Europe where fuel cells are gaining strength.

The PEMFC is now a practical, affordable and scalable technology. This marks a major milestone in the adoption of clean energy globally.

Source: https://fuelcellsworks.com/