Highly Durable, Cost-Effective, and Multifunctional Carbon-Supported IrRu-Based Catalyst for Automotive Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Anodes

Abstract

The design of highly durable, electroactive, and cost-effective catalysts to replace the currently prevalent Pt-based ones has long been a major milestone for expanding the market penetration of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Over the past decades, catalyst degradation in automotive fuel cells under transient conditions (e.g., startup/shutdown and cell reversal) has attracted much attention due to its irreversible consequences for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Herein, we evaluate IrRun/C as alternative catalysts to increaseMEA anode durability under cell reversal conditions and investigate their suitability for use in FCEVs. Among the various Ir:Ru ratios, the best hydrogen oxidation activity was observed for Ir:Ru = 1:4 (mol/mol), as confirmed by rotating disk electrode measurements. The performances of IrRu4/C and Pt/C as anode catalysts were compared side by side, with the corresponding I-V and anode polarization tests carried out under various operating conditions (cell temperature, relative humidity, and backpressure). Importantly, IrRu4/C showed Pt-comparable (∼100%) MEA performance and hydrogen oxidation activity, additionally exhibiting a ∼120 times better durability under cell reversal conditions.