Gram-size Pt/C catalyst synthesized using Pt compound directly recovered from an end-of-life PEM fuel cell stack

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology is getting closer to its maturity. However, the use of PEMFCs in fuel cell vehicles needs to tackle the challenges arising from insufficient durability and the high cost of catalysts, leading to the accumulation of high-price waste from the end-of-life fuel cell stacks. The use of this waste as a secondary source of platinum can be more economic and environmentally friendly compared to its primary production. In this investigation, platinum from the end-of-life fuel cell stack is recycled as a fresh Pt/C catalyst. The recycling processes involved the dissolution of Pt from the end-of-life fuel cell electrodes by refluxing in dilute acid (1 M HCl), followed by drying the Pt solution in a rotary evaporator and using the dried Pt precursor for polyol synthesis of Pt/C. With the aim of their industrial adaptation, a gram-scale synthesis of Pt/ C using the polyol method is carried out and its electrocatalytic performance is compared with commercial benchmark catalysts. Electrochemical performances of the Pt/C electrocatalysts synthesized using the recycled Pt and the equivalent commercial Pt precursor are found to be comparable.

Automated summary

The PEMFC technology is approaching maturity, but the challenges of insufficient durability and high cost of catalysts need to be addressed for fuel cell vehicles. Recycling platinum from end-of-life fuel cell stacks as a secondary source for Pt/C catalysts is found to be an economically and environmentally viable solution. The electrochemical performances of recycled Pt/C catalysts are comparable to commercial benchmark catalysts.