Evaluation of a Pt–Y–Ni Ternary Catalyst for Application in PEMFC Using a Gas Diffusion Electrode Half-Cell

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted significant attention as next-generation eco-friendly energy sources due to their high power density and fast response characteristics. However, the high cost of Pt-based catalysts, which account for a substantial portion of the fuel cell stack cost, remains a major obstacle to the large-scale commercialization of PEMFCs. To address this issue, extensive efforts have been devoted to the development of alloy catalysts that reduce Pt usage while enhancing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. Recently, many newly developed catalysts have demonstrated superior ORR activity in rotating disk electrode (RDE) evaluations; however, these performance improvements often fail to translate effectively into single-cell performance. This discrepancy arises because conventional RDE systems do not adequately reflect the actual fuel cell electrode environment, including ionomer coverage and mass transport resistance. In this study, to overcome these limitations and more accurately assess the potential for PEMFC application of catalysts, electrode-level electrochemical analyses were conducted on a newly developed Pt–Y–Ni ternary catalyst using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) half-cell system. Through GDE half-cell evaluations, electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), ORR performance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analyses were performed, enabling precise characterization of the electrochemical properties of the catalyst layer under conditions that closely mimic the actual PEMFC electrode environment. This study systematically demonstrates the potential of the Pt–Y–Ni ternary catalyst for PEMFC application through GDE half-cell–based electrode-level evaluation. MS/FE 20241146