WN enhanced metal-N-C platform for ultra-stable Pt oxygen reduction electrocatalyst in fuel cell

doi:10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65108-X

Abstract

Abstract:

The widespread deployment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells is hindered by the “catalysis trilemma” of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which demands simultaneous high activity, exceptional durability and low cost. To overcome this longstanding bottleneck, we propose a universal tungsten nitride (WN) enhanced metal-N-C platform, where WN synergizes with metal-N_x sites to create a robust and electronically modulated support for Pt catalysts. This dual-anchoring and synergistic-catalyzing architecture not only effectively suppresses Pt nanoparticle migration and dissolution but also optimizes Pt activity, thereby accelerating ORR kinetics and enhancing structural integrity. As a prototypical example, the Pt/WN-Fe-N-C catalyst delivers a remarkable peak power density of 1.85 W/cm² at an ultralow cathode Pt loading of 0.05 mg-_Pt/cm² and retains 91.1% peak power density after 90000 accelerated durability test cycles with 4 mV voltage loss at 0.80 A/cm²-significantly exceeding the U.S. DOE 2030 targets. This work establishes a generalizable materials design strategy to break the activity-stability-cost trade-off in fuel cell catalysis.

Key words: Oxygen reduction reaction, Durability, Activity, Tungsten nitride, Metal-N-C, Proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Ke Li, Yi Luo, Chenning Cai, Zemin Zheng, Gang Yu, Jianqiang Hu, Shengli Chen. WN enhanced metal-N-C platform for ultra-stable Pt oxygen reduction electrocatalyst in fuel cell[J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2026, 87: 230-242.

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URL: https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65108-X

https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/Y2026/V87/I8/230

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1. Overall performance demonstration and structural characterizations of the developed catalysts. (a) Schematic illustration of the microstructure of Pt/WN-M-N-C catalysts. (b) XRD patterns of Pt/WN-M-N-C catalysts with different metals (M = Fe/Co/Ni), as well as those of TKK 20% Pt/C and WN-Fe-N-C. (c) HAADF-STEM image of WN-Fe-N-C. Elemental mapping of WN-Fe-N-C: corresponding HAADF-STEM image (d), W (e), N (f), and Fe (g). (h) HAADF-STEM image of Pt/WN-Fe-N-C with the corresponding Pt nanoparticle size distribution histogram. Comparison diagram of durability data between Pt/W-Fe-N-C and other recently reported advanced Pt-based catalysts in MEA: MA retention (i) and peak power density retention (j) [1,39-59].

Fig. 2. Comprehensive microstructural and electronic characterization of the Pt/WN-Fe-N-C catalyst. (a) Bright-field TEM image revealing the triphasic interface between Pt nanocrystals, carbon matrix, and WN nanoparticles. (b) High-magnification HAADF-STEM image of a single Pt nanoparticle demonstrating the well-ordered atomic arrangement characteristic of high crystallinity. (c?f) Atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM image of an individual Pt-based nanoparticle. (d) Corresponding elemental maps of the nanoparticle displayed in panel (c): Pt-L signal (d), Fe-K signal (e), and W-L signal (f). (g) Elemental line-scan profile across the nanoparticle indicated in panel (c), showing the spatial distribution of Pt, Fe, and W. (h) High-resolution Pt 4f XPS spectra with peak deconvolution for Pt/WN-Fe-N-C, Pt-Fe/Fe-N-C, and commercial TKK 20% Pt/C. (i) High-resolution W 4f XPS spectra with corresponding peak fitting analysis for Pt/WN-Fe-N-C and WN-Fe-N-C.

Fig. 3. Comparative electrochemical stability evaluation of Pt/WN-M-N-C (M = Fe, Co, Ni) catalysts under different aging cycles. CV curves (a), LSV curves (b), and performance degradation data (c) of Pt/WN-Fe-N-C at different numbers of aging cycles. CV curves (d), LSV curves (e), and performance degradation data (f) of Pt/WN-Co-N-C at different numbers of aging cycles. CV curves (g), LSV curves (h), and performance degradation data (i) of Pt/WN-Ni-N-C at different numbers of aging cycles. Test conditions: 25 °C, oxygen saturated 0.10 mol/L HClO4 solution, 20 mV/s for CV test, 1600 rpm for LSV test, 15 µg/cm2-Pt loading on the electrode, ADT cycles between 0.60-1.00 V vs. RHE at 50 mV/s.

Fig. 4. The TEM images and Pt nanoparticle size distribution histogram of Pt/WN-M-N-C. The TEM images of Pt/WN-Fe-N-C (a), Pt/WN-Co-N-C (b), and Pt/WN-Ni-N-C (c) after ADTs. Pt nanoparticle size distribution histogram of Pt/WN-Fe-N-C (d), Pt/WN-Co-N-C (e), and Pt/WN-Ni-N-C (f) before and after ADTs.

Fig. 5. Performance evaluation of PEMFC with Pt/WN-Fe-N-C and TKK50% Pt/C catalysts under various ADT cycles. (a) Polarization curves of H2-O2 MEAs with Pt/WN-Fe-N-C as cathode catalyst at different ADT cycles. (b) Peak power density and MA data of H2-O2 MEAs with Pt/WN-Fe-N-C cathode catalyst at different ADT cycles. (c) CV curves of PEM fuel cells at different ADT cycles using Pt/WN-Fe-N-C as cathode catalyst. (d) Polarization curves of H2-O2 MEAs with TKK 50% Pt/C cathode catalyst. (e) Voltage values at 0.80 A/cm2 current density under various ADT cycles (H2-O2 Pt-Fe/Fe-N-C in Ref. [28]). Test conditions: 0.05 mg/cm2 Pt loading for Pt/WN-Fe-N-C, 0.100 mg/cm2 Pt loading for TKK Pt/C, back pressure 150 kPa, 80 °C, 100% R.H. (f) TEM of Pt/WN-Fe-N-C after 90000 cycles ADTs in MEA.

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