Argonne National Laboratory

fuel cells

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  • Increased performance and stability
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 7,871,738 B2
    • Nanosegregated surfaces as catalysts for fuel cells
    Schematic illustration of the nanosegregated Pt(111)-Skin near surface atomic layers with oscillatory compositional profile.

    The Invention 

    Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a method for creating a new class of platinum multi-metallic catalysts that are not only compositionally stable but also exhibit an advantageous electronic structure with enhanced catalytic properties. 

    Using this process, researchers created an alloy of platinum and one or more transition metals (such as cobalt, nickel, iron, titanium, chromium and others). Next, they modified the near surface layers by annealing, which induces formations known as nanosegregated surfaces. These surfaces vastly improve performance by overcoming kinetic limitations for the oxygen reduction reaction. The result is a catalyst particularly advantageous for use in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. 

    In the energy industry, fuel cells are rapidly becoming an important component. However, the high cost of manufacturing the platinum catalyst—a required element in a fuel cell—makes fuel cells relatively non-competitive in the commercial world. So far, such catalysts have not been able to demonstrate the performance and life expectancy consistent with a fuel cell’s long-term operation. Argonne’s invention overcomes this limitation. 

    Benefits 

    • Enhanced catalytic properties that drive improved performance, 
    • Greater stability 
    • Greater cost-effectiveness 

    Applications and Industries 

    • Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells 
    • Energy storage devices, such as metal-air batteries 
    • Magnetic storage devices 
    • Automotive industry 

    Developmental Stage 

    Proof of concept 

  • Candido Pereira

    Candido Pereira is a principal chemical engineer and manages the Process Simulation and Safeguards group within Argonne’s Chemical & Fuel Cycle Technologies Division.

  • Technique improves the efficacy of fuel cells

    Fuel cells, which generate electricity from chemical reactions without harmful emissions, have the potential to power everything from cars to portable electronics, and could be cleaner and more efficient than combustion engines.