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Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts for Cell Reversal and Start/Stop Tolerance

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Electrocatalysis in Fuel Cells

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Energy ((LNEN,volume 9))

Abstract

Minute amounts of ruthenium and iridium on platinum nanostructured thin films have been evaluated in an effort to reduce carbon corrosion and Pt dissolution during transient conditions in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Electrochemical tests showed the catalysts had a remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity, even greater than that of bulk, metallic thin films. Stability tests within a fuel cell environment showed that rapid Ru dissolution could be managed with the addition of Ir. Membrane electrode assemblies containing a Ru to Ir atomic ratio of 1:9 were evaluated under start-up/shutdown and cell reversal conditions for OER catalyst loadings ranging from 1 to 10 μg/cm2. These tests affirmed that electrode potentials can be controlled through the addition of OER catalysts without impacting the oxygen reduction reaction on the cathode or the hydrogen oxidation reaction on the anode. The morphology and chemical structure of the thin OER layers were characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in an effort to establish a correlation between interfacial properties and electrochemical behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fuel Cell Components Program, 3M Company, St. Paul, MN, 55144, USA

    Radoslav T. Atanasoski

  2. Corporate Research Analytical Laboratory, 3M Company, St. Paul, MN, 55144, USA

    Ljiljana L. Atanasoska

  3. Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    David A. Cullen

Authors
  1. Radoslav T. Atanasoski
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  2. Ljiljana L. Atanasoska
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  3. David A. Cullen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Radoslav T. Atanasoski .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. UTC Power, Governor’s Highway 195, South Windsor, 06074, Connecticut, USA

    Minhua Shao

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Atanasoski, R.T., Atanasoska, L.L., Cullen, D.A. (2013). Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts for Cell Reversal and Start/Stop Tolerance. In: Shao, M. (eds) Electrocatalysis in Fuel Cells. Lecture Notes in Energy, vol 9. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4911-8_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4911-8_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4911-8

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