Improvement of Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Ruthenium-based Nanoparticle Catalysts

Abstract

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are important alternatives to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, AEMFCs involve slow hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) on the anode. Catalysts to improve the HOR were developed by control of ruthenium nanoparticle size, alloying ruthenium with iridium, and surface modification of metal nanoparticles, resulting in enhanced catalytic activity by optimizing hydrogen binding energy and bifunctionality of the catalyst surface. Here, the recent development of anode catalysts for AEMFCs is reviewed.