Projected Fuel Cell Stack Costs Using Non-PGM Cathode Electrocatalysts

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells presently contain platinum (Pt) at their cathode and anode for catalysis of oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. Replacing the Pt at the fuel cell cathode with electrocatalysts having no precious group metals (non-PGM or PGM-free) is a vibrant research area, aiming to protect against any rapid increase in the cost ofplatinum. However, the activity of non-PGM catalysts is presently low, so more cells, including the PEM, bipolar plates, etc., are needed to reach a rated power for a stack with a non-PGM cathode. Technoeconomic analysis (TEA) shows that a stack with non-PGM catalysts would be approximately 2.9× the size of a stack with a standard Pt cathode catalyst and would cost about 2.3× more. The stacks must still be recycled to reclaim the Pt at the anode catalyst, but recycling becomes less cost competitive as the amountof Pt in stack decreases. We conclude that for economic viability, the performance and durability of non-PGM catalysts must approach that of Pt, and researchers should investigate non-PGM anodes to eliminate recycling needs.