New platinum-substitute catalyst for fuel cells in Japan

Japanese company Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has developed new platinum-substitute catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs).

PEFC catalysts are used at both anode and cathode, encouraging chemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen. While platinum is now mainly used as catalyst, the metal’s high price and low levels of reserves tend to restrict the spread of PEFCs. Furthermore, a platinum-based catalyst used at a point close to the cathode has the possibility of melting.

The new catalysts were developed under the company’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s (NEDO) project led by Professor Kenichiro Ota of Yokohama National University.

The catalysts comprise a niobium-oxide-based catalyst and a titanium-oxide-based catalyst, each containing carbon and nitrogen atoms. They exhibit the world’s highest levels of efficiency in terms of open circuit voltage and durability among platinum-substitute catalysts.
The catalysts have an open circuit voltage of 1.00V or more and, during performance tests, have ran for 500 hours or more. The cost is also 1/20 or less when compared to platinum-based catalysts.

PEFCs generate power through chemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen, contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and enabling the production of compact and light-weight cells. Thus, PEFCs are expected to be widely used as power sources for vehicles, mobile devices, and homes.


- Katrice R. Jalbuena