Structure control of a carbon-based noble-metal-free fuel cell cathode catalyst leading to high power output

Abstract

A carbon-based noble-metal-free O₂ reduction catalyst for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathode was produced from commonplace, safe and inexpensive compounds (glucose, adenine, Fe gluconate) and the catalyst structure was controlled between a graphene-layered structure and a highly porous amorphous structure for the activity enhancement, which led to the power density of the highest level among the noble-metal-free cathode type PEFCs.