Home > Press > An alternative to platinum: Iron-nitrogen compounds as catalysts in graphene
Nano-island of graphene in which iron-nitrogen complexes are embedded. The FeN4 complexes (shown in orange) are catalytically active.
Image: S. Fiechter/HZB |
Abstract:
Fuel cells convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen (H2) into electrical energy by electrochemically "combusting" hydrogen gas with oxygen (O2) from the air into water (H2O), thereby generating electricity. As a result, future electric automobiles might be operated quite well with fuel cells instead of with heavy batteries. But for "cold" combustion of hydrogen and oxygen to function well, the anode and cathode of the fuel cell must be coated with extremely active catalysts. The problem is that the platinum-based catalysts employed for this contribute about 25 per cent of the total fuel-cell costs.
However, iron-nitrogen complexes in graphene (known as Fe-N-C catalysts) have been achieving levels of activity comparable to Pt/C catalysts for several years already. "Systematic investigation of Fe-N-C catalysts was difficult though, since most approaches for preparing the materials lead to heterogeneous compounds. These contain various species of iron compounds such as iron carbides or nitrides besides the intended FeN4 centres", explains Sebastian Fiechter of HZB.
High density of catalytically active centres
"We had already developed a new preparation method at HZB a few years ago to produce an inexpensive catalyst material from organometallic compounds such as iron or cobalt porphyrin", reports Peter Bogdanoff, HZB. Ulrike Kramm and Iris Herrmann-Geppert improved the process for producing it as part of their doctoral studies at HZB. As a result, the metal-N-C catalysts developed at HZB held the world record for the highest density of catalytically active centres of various nitro-metallic compounds up to about 2011. However, it remained unclear as to which inorganic compounds influenced the catalytic efficiency. The team was now able to determine this.
Purification process removes interfering compounds
The highlight in the current work is a purification process (a combination of thermal treatment with a subsequent etching step) by which the proportion of metallic compounds that interfere with catalytic activity can be substantially reduced, even for catalysts that are highly heterogeneous. The interesting thing here is that the activity increases enormously! Ulrike Kramm, who has since become a junior professor at TU Darmstadt, was successful in purifying several catalysts to such an extent that all the iron present in the graphene layers was exclusively in form of complexes made of iron and four nitrogen atoms (FeN4). The scientists thereby disproved the hypothesis debated among experts by which improvement in the activity of the FeN4 centres only resulted from promoters, as they are known, such as iron nanoparticles.
Now verified: FeN4 centres provide the high catalytic efficiency even without promoters
"To check this hypothesis, we employed numerous complex measurement techniques like Mößbauer spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at BESSY II. These enabled us to precisely survey the atomic structure of the catalytic centres", Ulrike Kramm reports.
"The purification process enables us now to create catalysts having exclusively FeN4 centres. This allows us to subsequently select compounds to be added afterwards as promoters that further improve the activity level or stability of these catalysts", as Ulrike Kramm summarises her research approach at TU Darmstadt.
Sebastian Fiechter and Peter Bogdanoff are continuing their research at HZB on novel catalysts, especially in regard to hydrogen generation using sunlight. "We can also use the insights into how these metal-N-C catalysts work in our on-going development of catalysing materials for solar-based hydrogen production at HZB," says Fiechter.
Together, the research activities at HZB and TU Darmstadt could enable the development of a complete regenerative energy cycle, using solar hydrogen in low cost fuel cells, thus producing electricity without climate gas emission.
The results have now been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
On an easy way to prepare Metal-Nitrogen doped carbon with exclusive presence of MeN4-type sites active for the ORR, by Ulrike I. Kramm, Iris Herrmann-Geppert, Jan Behrends, Klaus Lips, Sebastian Fiechter and Peter Bogdanoff
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Fiechter
49-308-062-42927
Copyright © Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related Links |
Related News Press |
Chemistry
What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024
News and information
Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024
Graphene/ Graphite
NRL discovers two-dimensional waveguides February 16th, 2024
Possible Futures
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Discoveries
What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024
Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024
High-tech 'paint' could spare patients repeated surgeries March 8th, 2024
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Materials/Metamaterials/Magnetoresistance
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Focused ion beam technology: A single tool for a wide range of applications January 12th, 2024
Announcements
What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Energy
Development of zinc oxide nanopagoda array photoelectrode: photoelectrochemical water-splitting hydrogen production January 12th, 2024
Shedding light on unique conduction mechanisms in a new type of perovskite oxide November 17th, 2023
Inverted perovskite solar cell breaks 25% efficiency record: Researchers improve cell efficiency using a combination of molecules to address different November 17th, 2023
The efficient perovskite cells with a structured anti-reflective layer – another step towards commercialization on a wider scale October 6th, 2023
Automotive/Transportation
Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024
Tests find no free-standing nanotubes released from tire tread wear September 8th, 2023
Fuel Cells
Current and Future Developments in Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanotubes: Applications of Nanomaterials in Energy Storage and Electronics October 28th, 2022
Solar/Photovoltaic
Development of zinc oxide nanopagoda array photoelectrode: photoelectrochemical water-splitting hydrogen production January 12th, 2024
Shedding light on unique conduction mechanisms in a new type of perovskite oxide November 17th, 2023
Inverted perovskite solar cell breaks 25% efficiency record: Researchers improve cell efficiency using a combination of molecules to address different November 17th, 2023
Charged “molecular beasts” the basis for new compounds: Researchers at Leipzig University use “aggressive” fragments of molecular ions for chemical synthesis November 3rd, 2023
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||