Eco Factor: New catalyst helps fuel cells generate 12 times more current and last 10 times longer.
Chemists at Brown University have improved the credentials of fuel cells by replacing pure-platinum catalysts with a nanoparticle consisting of a five-nanometer palladium core and an iron-platinum shell. This new particle uses less platinum and is makes fuel cells more efficient and last longer as well.
At the fuel cell’s cathode of this new nanoparticle, oxygen reduction occurs, which creates water as waste instead of carbon dioxide produced by internal combustion systems. Tests show that the new catalyst enables the cell to generate 12 times more current and last 10,000 cycles, which is 10 times longer than commercially available models that begin to break down after 1000 cycles.
Via: DailyTech
