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Electrochemistry of N4 Macrocyclic Metal Complexes pp 69–101Cite as

Non-noble Metal (NNM) Catalysts for Fuel Cells: Tuning the Activity by a Rational Step-by-Step Single Variable Evolution

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Abstract

Low-temperature fuel cells (LTFCs) based on polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) fed with hydrogen are being recognized to be among the best candidates as pollution-free and energy-saving power sources for electric or hybrid vehicles or portable apparatuses because of their high-energy conversion efficiency (~58 %) and zero or nearly zero emissions. Currently, cost and durability are the main limitations of FC technology to be commercialized. A significant percentage of the cost of PEMFCs comes from precious group metal (PGM) based catalysts that are used mainly for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, a breakthrough in the development of cost-effective, highly performing, and durable catalysts has been identified as the determining factor for success toward PEMFC commercialization. In particular, non-noble metal (NNM) cathodic electrocatalyst gained lots of attention in recent years to replace PGM-based catalysts for the ORR. Within various NNM electrocatalysts, the most promising ones seem to be heat-treated Fe(II) and/or Co(II) chelates and macrocycles supported on carbon particles. The formation of metal–nitrogen (M–NX/C) and metal–carbon (M/C) active ensembles after the heat treatment is necessary for ORR. In this chapter we will describe an enhancement of the electrochemical activity toward ORR through a step-by-step understanding of the variables involved during the formation of active Fe–NX NNM catalysts. We adopted different approaches in order to understand the formation of active ensembles and to increase the activity by a rational step-by-step progression.

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Acknowledgments

Authors gratefully acknowledge all colleagues that stimulated the review process of the obtained results to accomplish this chapter. In particular: Dr. G. Ercolino, Dr. R. Alipour Moghadam Esfahani, Dr. N.S. Vasile, and Prof. A. Kotarba (Jagiellonian University in Krakow). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2011-2014) for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement DURAMET n° 278054 (Improved durability and cost-effective components for new generation solid polymer electrolyte direct methanol fuel cells), and from the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR, PRIN 2010–2011) under grant agreement NAMEDPEM n° 2010CYTWAW (Advanced nanocomposite membranes and innovative electrocatalysts for durable polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells).

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  1. Politecnico Di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Gre.En2 Group (Green Energy & Engineering Group), Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    Alessandro H. A. Monteverde Videla, Luigi Osmieri & Stefania Specchia

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  1. Alessandro H. A. Monteverde Videla
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  2. Luigi Osmieri
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Correspondence to Alessandro H. A. Monteverde Videla .

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  1. Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Jose H. Zagal

  2. CNRS-Chimie ParisTech, Paris CX 05, France

    Fethi Bedioui

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Monteverde Videla, A.H.A., Osmieri, L., Specchia, S. (2016). Non-noble Metal (NNM) Catalysts for Fuel Cells: Tuning the Activity by a Rational Step-by-Step Single Variable Evolution. In: Zagal, J., Bedioui, F. (eds) Electrochemistry of N4 Macrocyclic Metal Complexes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31172-2_3

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