Nanoporous Single-Crystalline Oxide Catalysts for Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2 with an Ultra-wide Temperature Window.

Abstract

Preferential oxidation of CO in H2 (PROX) reaction is a promising solution to the on-board purification of CO-contaminated H2 fuel for use in next-generation proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). However, achieving high CO selectivity, activity and structural stability across the wide temperature window remains a great challenge. Herein, we fabricate centimeter scale interfacial PROX catalysts grown from nanoporous single-crystalline Pr2 O3 and Nd2 O3 monoliths with lattice surface-deposited Pt clusters at nanoscale. We demonstrate complete and selective removal of CO in H2 over an unprecedented wide temperature window (253-403 K). The monoliths are integrated with an operational PEMFC to purify the H2 fuel contaminated with CO (30 ppm) and enable stable power output for >400 h; over two thousand times longer than without. This work demonstrates that the nanoporous single-crystalline oxide monoliths can simultaneously achieve the stability and overall performance required to realize practically useful PEMFCs.