Graphitized Aerogel Supported PEMFC catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is an emerging sustainable energy technology that can replace rechargeable batteries in portable electronics, and automotive applications. High active catalyst or additional catalyst loading is needed for the oxygen reduction at the cathode since the major voltage losses are associated with slow oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Consequently, the efforts to reduce the platinum loading by replacing (or alloying) Pt with non-precious transition metals were performed in order to change the electronic properties of platinum or to modify platinum-oxygen electron-level interaction [1]. However, this strategy requires a number of complicated fabrication methods in addition to the existing scalability issues. On the other hand, the non-precious transition metals replaced (or alloyed) wit