The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Researchers, have developed a brand-new hydrogen fuel cell which isn’t solely the world’s most durable to this point, however can be less expensive, paving manner for a wider software of inexperienced power in the pursuit of a carbon impartial world.

Figure 1: The world’s most durable hydrogen fuel cell.

Figure 1 shows that Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising clear power possibility as they generate energy by changing hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, with zero emission of carbon dioxide, particulate issues and different air pollution that will trigger smog and different well-being issues.

Despite their environmental advantages and years of improvement, hydrogen fuel cells are not extensively commercialized. Their energy technology relies upon closely on an electrocatalyst, which is essentially made up of the costly and uncommon steel platinum. [1]

Scientists have strived to develop alternatives by replacing platinum with more common and inexpensive materials like iron-nitrogen-carbon, but those materials are either proven inefficient in power generation or have poor durability.

Now, a research team led by Prof. SHAO Minhua, found a new formula which not only could cut down the proportion of platinum used by 80 percent, but also set a record in terms of the cell’s durability level.

Despite a low portion of platinum, the new hybrid catalyst developed by the team managed to maintain the platinum catalytic activity at 97% after 100,000 cycles of accelerated stress test compared to the current catalyst which normally sees a drop of over 50% in performance after 30,000 cycles. In another test, the new fuel cell did not show any performance decay after operating for 200 hours. [2]

The new catalyst has three different active sites for the reaction, instead of the single one in current catalysts. Using a formula containing atomically dispersed platinum, iron single atoms and platinum-iron nanoparticles, the new mix accelerates reaction rate and achieves a catalytic activity 3.7 times higher than the platinum itself. Theoretically, the higher the catalytic activity, the greater the power it delivers.

Prof. Shao, also the Director of HKUST Energy Institute, says that "a hydrogen fuel cell is an energy conversion device essential for our aspiration of achieving a carbon neutral world. There is a need to expand its use amidst our fight against climate change.” [3]

References:

1. https://www.theblog101.com/building-the-worlds-most-durable-hydrogen-fuel-cell/
2. https://www.nanowerk.com/news2/green/newsid=60995.php
3. https://techxplore.com/news/2022-07-world-durable-hydrogen-fuel-cell.html

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), Researchers Developed the World’s Most Durable Hydrogen Fuel Cell, AnaTechMax, pp.201