Combinatorial and High Throughput Screening of Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Fuel Cells

Chen, Guanyu

Combinatorial and High Throughput Screening of Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Fuel Cells

Abstract

This study is an investigation of combinatorial and high throughput screen method for ORR catalyst for alkaline fuel cell. Since the kinetic of alkaline fuel cell ORR is still sluggish, the calling for better catalysts is getting louder. However, the previous screen methods to locating optimal catalytic activity is low efficient. The screen methodology is a combination study of thin film fabrication and electrochemistry where magnetron plasma sputtering has been applied for sample preparation and rotating disk electrode plays an important role in the characterization methodology. The system screened is the palladium (Pd)-3d transitional metal system because Pd shows promising ORR catalytic activity in alkaline media which is comparable with Pt. Previous studies about Pd combined with other 3-d metals exhibit even better activity then single Pd and Pt. Throughout the screen process among the alloys (Pd-Cu, Pd-Co, Pd-Ni, Pd-Fe), we found the Pd50Cu50 has the best catalytic activity.

Date Issued

2019-08-30

Keywords

fuel cell; thin film; Materials Science; Chemistry; Magnetron Sputtering; ORR Catalyst; Palladium

Committee Chair

Van Dover, Robert B.

Committee Member

Abruna, Hector D.

Degree Discipline

Materials Science and Engineering

Degree Name

M.S., Materials Science and Engineering

Degree Level

Master of Science

Types

dissertation or thesis