Hydrogen fuel cells, which cleanly generate electricity, are held back by the high cost and gradual degradation of their platinum-based catalysts. The harsh acidic environment inside a fuel cell causes platinum nanoparticles to dissolve and clump together, leading to a steady decline in power output.
Recently, a research team led by Prof. Lishan Peng and Prof. Qingjun Chen from the University of Science and Technology of China revealed how a novel Fe-N-C protective layer dramatically enhances the stability of platinum-based fuel cell catalysts through a unique interfacial electronic effect. They elucidate the critical role of 5d-3d/2p orbital hybridization in anchoring platinum atoms and optimizing catalytic activity. The results were published in the Chinese Journal of Catalysis ( 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)64985-6 ).
