By: Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, July 7, 2022
Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in China, led by Minhua Shao, developed a new hydrogen fuel cell that is not only the world’s longest-lasting hydrogen fuel cell to date (according to the evaluation criteria used by the U.S. Department of Energy), but also more cost-effective, paving the way for wider application of this environmentally friendly energy device.
The hydrogen fuel cell is a promising clean energy option because it uses only hydrogen and oxygen in its electricity generation process. It does not emit carbon dioxide, particulate matter or other pollutants that can contaminate the air and cause health problems.
Despite its environmental advantages and the many years of development that have been invested in it, this cell has not yet been widely commercialized. This is because its power generation depends largely on an electrocatalyst, composed largely of platinum, a very expensive metal.
Various teams of scientists have endeavored in recent years to develop alternatives to platinum, replacing it with more common and cheaper materials, such as combinations of iron, nitrogen and carbon, but these materials have proven to be ineffective in power generation or catalysts made with them are very short-lived.
Shao and his colleagues have found a new formula that can reduce the proportion of platinum used by 80 percent, and also sets a record for the level of cell durability.
Shao and colleagues report the technical details of their new fuel cell in the academic journal Nature Catalysis, under the title “Atomically dispersed Pt and Fe sites and Pt-Fe nanoparticles for durable proton exchange membrane fuel cells”.
This material from Amazings’ NCYT portal was edited for clarity, style and length.
NCYT source from Amazings: https://noticiasdelaciencia.com/art/44550/crean-una-celula-de-combustible-de-hidrogeno-mas-duradera-que-cualquier-otra-previa
Photo: HKUST
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