journal article·2026-03-13

Translating Fundamental Insights into Ag-Based Bimetallic Electrocatalysts to Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Johanna Schröder, John C. Douglin, José A. Zamora Zeledón, Ashton M. Aleman, Matthew J. Liu, Jinyu Guo, Dean Miller, Kevin H. Stone, William A. Tarpeh, Dario R. Dekel, G. T. Kasun Kalhara Gunasooriya, Michaela Burke Stevens, Thomas F. Jaramillo

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 11· Issue 3
Publisher page

Abstract

To address the challenges of high costs and scalability for fuel cells, it is essential to develop affordable and earth-abundant materials that are Pt-group-metal (PGM)-free. Recent advancements in PGM-free electrocatalysis for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media show that high catalyst loadings are needed to achieve high reaction rates; however, there are associated mass transport limitations. To address this issue, we developed low-loading ionomerless Ag-bimetallic thin films by alloying with 3d block elements or Sn. We bridge knowledge from fundamental rotating disk electrode (RDE) studies to gas-diffusion cathodes in high-temperature anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-AEMFCs), resulting in high-activity ORR catalysis and peak power densities up to 1.2 W cm –2 geo for the Ag-Sn and Ag-Co alloys. Experimental postcharacterization and theoretical calculations reveal small Co or Sn oxide nanoislands on Ag as likely active sites enhancing ORR activity, ultimately offering these low-loading PGM-free ORR materials as a viable path toward sustainable energy conversion.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Fuel Cells and Related Materials · Advanced battery technologies research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States

SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry (ITCP), Engesserstraße 18/20, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering

Technion − Israel Institute of Technology

Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States

The Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP)

Israel National Institute of Energy Storage (INIES)

School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd St, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States

Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

Funding

Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division · Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung · Israel Science Foundation · Israeli Smart Transportation Research Center · Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung · Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources · Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology · Jacobs Fund

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