Could an Iron catalyst be the new future of hydrogen fuel cells

Fuel cells are not widely commercialized as they could be because they require expensive catalysts. The best catalysts have been a family known as platinum-group metals. While efficient and durable, these metals are expensive and are extremely rare. As a result, scientists are seeking less costly alternatives. One such alternative has been iron-based catalysts. Iron is appealing because it is abundant and inexpensive. But it does not perform as well as platinum, especially because it lacks the durability to withstand the highly corrosive and oxidative environments inside fuel cells. To overcome this barrier, a research team at the University of Buffalo, bonded four nitrogen atoms to the iron. The Researchers then embedded the material in a few layers of graphene with accurate atomic control of local geometric and chemical structures. This is believed to be the most efficient iron-based catalyst produced to date, exceeding the target for electric current density. This could make hydrogen fuel cells, much more affordable for commercial use. The Researchers are planning follow-up studies to further improve the catalyst.



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