Metal Oxides Aerogels as promising catalyst supports for Fuel Cells and Electrolysers

International audienceCurrent carbon based catalyst supports are unstable in most Fuel Cells operating conditions. Alternatives are still necessary to reach the durability objectives fixed by the DoE. The electrode morphology also has a great impact on the FC performance, especially at high current densities when mass transports become to be limiting. The electrode durability can be improved using metal oxides instead of carbon as a catalyst support and the concentration polarization can be limited through adequate nanotexturation of the catalyst support. To these ends, Metal Oxides Aerogels have been developed in our lab and show promising results for both Fuel and Electrolysis cells. Their electronic conductivity was improved by doping and their morphology can be tailored playing on the synthesis route parameters. These catalyst supports are under development for FC application within the context of the FCH-JU project NANOCAT and the French ANR project SURICAT. We plan to adapt them to PEM Electrolysis