Ultra‐Low Pt Loaded Porous Carbon Microparticles with Controlled Channel Structure for High‐Performance Fuel Cell Catalysts
Young Jun Lee, Hee‐Eun Kim, Eoyoon Lee, Joonho Lee, Sangyong Shin, Hongseok Yun, Eun Ji Kim, Hanbit Jung, Hyung Chul Ham, Bumjoon J. Kim, Hyunjoo Lee
Abstract
Abstract Developing a highly efficient and durable proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) using a low amount of platinum is essential for minimizing the total cost. Herein, the development of high‐performance PEMFC catalysts is demonstrated using ultra‐low Pt loaded (1 wt%) porous carbon with controlled channel diameters ( D ch = 13–63 nm), produced from block copolymer particles. The single cell based on the catalyst with the largest D ch of 63 nm yields an initial maximum power density of 1230 mW cm −2 and high durability showing 1120 mW cm −2 after 30 000 cycles under H 2 /O 2 flow, which outperforms those of commercial Pt/C catalysts despite 1/20 Pt usage. Furthermore, the catalyst shows outstanding performance with 51 kW per gram of Pt (kW ) after 30 000 cycles in H 2 /air flow, which is the highest performance reported to date. The channel structure and large D ch of the porous particles are the keys to enhancing the power density by improving the proton and mass transport.