Abstract
Transition metal carbides (TMCs) and transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have attracted attention as promising electrocatalysts that could replace noble metals of high price and limited supply. Relative to parent metals, TMC and TMN behave like noble metals for electrochemical reactions such as oxidation of hydrogen, CO and alcohols, and reduction of oxygen. When TMC and TMN are combined with other metals, the electrocatalytic synergy is often observed in electrochemical reactions. Thus, combinations with a minute amount of Pt or even non-Pt metals give performance comparable to heavily loaded Pt-based electrocatalysts for low temperature fuel cells. It appears that TMC based electrocatalysts are more active as anode catalysts for oxidation of fuels, whereas TMN based catalysts are more active for cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction and more stable.
Highlights
The attention on clean energy has increased due to the limitation of hydrocarbon based energy sources and for protection of a clean environment [1,2,3]
The current level is around 2,000 hrs. These results indicate that the new electrocatalyst materials need to be developed for commercialization of low temperature fuel cells
The transition metal carbides (TMCs) have been considered as candidate electrocatalysts to replace the noble metals in low temperature fuel cells, which depend on a large amount of noble metals, especially Pt
Summary
The attention on clean energy has increased due to the limitation of hydrocarbon based energy sources and for protection of a clean environment [1,2,3]. As potential substitutes for Pt as electrode material for low temperature fuel cells, transition metal carbides (TMCs) and transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have attracted attention as promising electrocatalysts Relative to their parent transition metals, TMCs and TMNs behave like noble metals (Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru) for some chemical and electrochemical reactions, including oxidation of hydrogen, CO, and alcohols, and reduction of oxygen [48,49]. The fundamental catalytic properties and various applications of TMCs and TMNs based materials as electrocatalysts at anode and cathode sides for low temperature fuel cells are discussed including their electrochemical stabilities. TMCs have played pivotal roles as main catalysts and as promoters for other metals
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