Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Non-PGM Cathode Catalysts Using MOFs as Precursors

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) represents the most important electrochemical process in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). An effective catalyst with improved active site design and support architecture could reduce the kinetic barrier, lower the electrochemical overpotential, and enhance the mass transfer as well as energy conversion efficiency. Conventional PEMFC cathode catalysts contain the platinum group metals (PGMs) which contributes significant fraction of the overall stack cost. We report herein our recent progress in developing low-cost, high-efficiency non-PGM catalysts for fuel cell using metal-organic framework (MOF) based compounds as the precursors. New approaches to prepare the catalysts with high surface area and active site density are demonstrated, supported by detailed characterization studies.