Progress in non-platinum catalysts with applications in low temperature fuel cells

Abstract

Non-platinum catalysts have recently attracted significant attention with regard to their potential applications in low temperature fuel cells. This review summarizes the progresses in the development of these catalysts to date, including anode and cathode catalysts. Anode catalysts based on metal carbides, Pd alloys, and perovskite oxides are described, focusing on their catalytic activity. The non-platinum cathode catalysts include transition metal macrocyclic compounds, metal nitrides, and metal oxides. Particularly, various aspects are discussed in detail, including active sites, metal-support interactions, and the preparation parameters for transition metal macrocyclic compounds. All the compounds reviewed are considered promising candidates that may find commercial applications as non-platinum anode and cathode catalysts for fuel cells.