Porous Iron-Nitrogen-Carbon Electrocatalysts for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AEMFC)

High-performance platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) electrocatalystswere prepared from porous organic polymers(POPs) precursors with highly-porous structures and adjustablesurface area. A resin phenol-melamine-based POP and an ironsalt were used to synthesize Fe? N? C catalysts with differentiron contents (0.2-1.3 wt.%). Electrochemical and spectroscopicalcharacterization allowed us to elucidate the effect of Fecontent on the material's structure, surface chemistry, andelectrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR). The increase of iron content led to a specific surface areadecrease, preserving the morphological structure, with theformation of highly-active catalytic sites, as indicated by X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The rotating ringdisk electrode experiments, performed at pH=13, confirmedthe high ORR activity of both 0.5 Fe (E1/2=0.84 V) and 1.3 Fe(E1/2=0.83 V) catalysts, which were assembled at the cathode ofa H2-fed anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC)equipped with a FAA-3-50 membrane, evidencing promisingperformance (0.5 Fe, maximum power density, Max PD=69 mAcm? 2 and 1.3 Fe, Max PD=87 mAcm? 2) with furtheradvancement prospects