Application of Molecular Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Fuel Cells

The development of precious group metal-free (PGM-free) catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction is considered as the main thrust for the cost reduction of fuel cell technologies and their mass production. Within the PGM-free category, molecular catalysts offer an advantage over other heat-treated PGM-free catalysts owing to their well-defined structure, which enables further design of more active, selective, and durable catalysts. Even though non-heat-treated molecular catalysts with exceptional performance have been reported in the past, they were rarely tested in a fuel cell. Herein, we report on a molecular catalyst under alkaline conditions: fluorinated iron phthalocyanine (FeFPc) supported on cheap and commercially available high-surface area carbon-BP2000 (FeFPc@BP2000). It exhibits the highest activity ever reported for molecular catalysts under alkaline conditions in half-cells and fuel cells.

Automated summary

The development of PGM-free catalysts, particularly molecular catalysts, offers a promising avenue for reducing costs and promoting mass production of fuel cell technologies. The reported fluorinated iron phthalocyanine supported on high-surface area carbon-BP2000 exhibits the highest activity ever reported for molecular catalysts under alkaline conditions, showing great potential for application in fuel cells.