Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are emerging technologies for the electrochemical conversion of the chemical energy of a fuel (methanol) directly into electrical energy, with a low environmental impact and high efficiency. Yet, before this technology can reach a large-scale diffusion, specific is...
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doaj-0d8ef191c749461299998552913946b62020-11-24T21:39:46ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442018-12-0181265010.3390/catal8120650catal8120650Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel CellsCarmelo Lo Vecchio0David Sebastián1María Jesús Lázaro2Antonino Salvatore Aricò3Vincenzo Baglio4Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano”, CNR-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salita Santa Lucia sopra Contesse, 5, 98126 Messina, ItalyInstitute of Carbochemistry, CSIC-Spanish National Research Council, C/. Miguel Luesma Castán, 4, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainInstitute of Carbochemistry, CSIC-Spanish National Research Council, C/. Miguel Luesma Castán, 4, 50018 Zaragoza, SpainInstitute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano”, CNR-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salita Santa Lucia sopra Contesse, 5, 98126 Messina, ItalyInstitute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano”, CNR-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Salita Santa Lucia sopra Contesse, 5, 98126 Messina, ItalyDirect methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are emerging technologies for the electrochemical conversion of the chemical energy of a fuel (methanol) directly into electrical energy, with a low environmental impact and high efficiency. Yet, before this technology can reach a large-scale diffusion, specific issues must be solved, in particular, the high cost of the cell components. In a direct methanol fuel cell system, high capital costs are mainly derived from the use of noble metal catalysts; therefore, the development of low-cost electro-catalysts, satisfying the target requirements of high performance and durability, represents an important challenge. The research is currently addressed to the development of metal⁻nitrogen⁻carbon (M⁻N⁻C) materials as cheap and sustainable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acid environment, for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells fueled by hydrogen or alcohol. In particular, this mini-review summarizes the recent advancements achieved in DMFCs using M⁻N⁻C catalysts. The presented analysis is restricted to M⁻N⁻C catalysts mounted at the cathode of a DMFC or investigated in rotating disk electrode (RDE) configuration for the ORR in the presence of methanol in order to study alcohol tolerance. The main synthetic routes and characteristics of the catalysts are also presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/8/12/650M–N–C catalystsdirect methanol fuel cellmethanol toleranceoxygen reduction reaction |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Carmelo Lo Vecchio David Sebastián María Jesús Lázaro Antonino Salvatore Aricò Vincenzo Baglio |
spellingShingle |
Carmelo Lo Vecchio David Sebastián María Jesús Lázaro Antonino Salvatore Aricò Vincenzo Baglio Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Catalysts M–N–C catalysts direct methanol fuel cell methanol tolerance oxygen reduction reaction |
author_facet |
Carmelo Lo Vecchio David Sebastián María Jesús Lázaro Antonino Salvatore Aricò Vincenzo Baglio |
author_sort |
Carmelo Lo Vecchio |
title |
Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells |
title_short |
Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells |
title_full |
Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells |
title_fullStr |
Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells |
title_full_unstemmed |
Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells |
title_sort |
methanol-tolerant m–n–c catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions in acidic media and their application in direct methanol fuel cells |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Catalysts |
issn |
2073-4344 |
publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
description |
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are emerging technologies for the electrochemical conversion of the chemical energy of a fuel (methanol) directly into electrical energy, with a low environmental impact and high efficiency. Yet, before this technology can reach a large-scale diffusion, specific issues must be solved, in particular, the high cost of the cell components. In a direct methanol fuel cell system, high capital costs are mainly derived from the use of noble metal catalysts; therefore, the development of low-cost electro-catalysts, satisfying the target requirements of high performance and durability, represents an important challenge. The research is currently addressed to the development of metal⁻nitrogen⁻carbon (M⁻N⁻C) materials as cheap and sustainable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acid environment, for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells fueled by hydrogen or alcohol. In particular, this mini-review summarizes the recent advancements achieved in DMFCs using M⁻N⁻C catalysts. The presented analysis is restricted to M⁻N⁻C catalysts mounted at the cathode of a DMFC or investigated in rotating disk electrode (RDE) configuration for the ORR in the presence of methanol in order to study alcohol tolerance. The main synthetic routes and characteristics of the catalysts are also presented. |
topic |
M–N–C catalysts direct methanol fuel cell methanol tolerance oxygen reduction reaction |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/8/12/650 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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