A template-free method to synthesis high density iron single atoms anchored on carbon nanotubes for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Carbon supported iron single atom catalysts (FeSA) are promising materials to replace precious and expensive Pt catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). However, to support high density of atomic iron active sites on conductive carbon supports, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), relies on templates to avoid aggregation of iron atoms. Here, a simple and template-free method has been developed to prepare high density iron single atoms supported CNTs. The FeSA with an atomic Fe loading of 3.5 wt% shows an onset potential (E-on) of 0.95 V and a half-wave potential (E-1/2) of 0.801 V for ORR in O-2-saturated 0.1 M HClO4 solution, which is comparable to that of Pt/C (Pt loading of 25 mu g(Pt) cm(-2)). The high ORR performance is resulted from the high-density atomic sites and the highly conductive CNTs-graphene networks. Most importantly, the FeSA exhibits a E-1/2 of 0.80 V, 27 mV more positive than that of Pt/C in 0.2 M H3PO4+0.1M HClO4 electrolyte due to its high phosphate resistance ability. The applicability of as-synthesized FeSA catalysts as precious metal group (PGM)-free cathode has been demonstrated in a HT-PEMFC, delivering a peak power density of 266 mW cm(-2) and excellent stability at 240 degrees C using anhydrous H-2 as fuel. The method provides a facile and practical route for developing highly efficient PGM-free catalysts for HT-PEMFCs.

Automated summary

The study developed a simple and template-free method to prepare high-density iron single atoms supported CNTs, which exhibited comparable performance to precious metal platinum for ORR and high phosphate resistance, making it suitable for high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.