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Researchers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in China have developed an innovative atomic layer deposition strategy to precisely engineer a tin-containing catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells. By controlling the spatial distribution of tin component at the atomic scale, the team has created a unique mesh-island architecture that could improve catalyst performance and durability. The findings highlight another potential application for tin in future energy technologies, helping convert hydrogen into electricity more effectively.
查看配图Hydrogen is attracting increasing interest as an alternative energy carrier, particularly for transport and industries looking to reduce carbon emissions. While much research focuses on producing hydrogen, another important challenge is how to use it efficiently.
Hydrogen fuel cells offer one solution, generating electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. They are already used in applications including vehicles and backup power systems, with further development underway for heavy transport and aviation.
However, improving their cost, performance and durability remains important for wider adoption. New research from HUST suggests that tin could help address some of these challenges.
How do hydrogen fuel cells work?
Hydrogen fuel cells work in a similar way to batteries, producing electricity through chemical reactions rather than combustion. However, unlike a battery that needs recharging, a fuel cell can continue generating electricity as long as it receives a supply of hydrogen and oxygen.
One widely used type is the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which contains two electrodes separated by a thin membrane.
Hydrogen enters one side of the cell, where a catalyst separates it into positively charged particles called protons and negative electrons. The protons pass through the membrane, while the electrons travel around an external circuit, creating an electric current that can power a motor or other equipment.
On the opposite side, oxygen from the air combines with the protons and electrons to produce water.
The process generates electricity, heat and water without directly producing carbon dioxide. However, its overall environmental impact depends on how the hydrogen is produced.
A key component of PEM fuel cells is the catalyst, which helps these reactions take place efficiently. Platinum is commonly used because of its excellent catalytic properties, particularly for the reaction involving oxygen.
However, platinum is expensive, and its performance can gradually decline as the catalyst deteriorates. Developing catalysts that remain effective for longer is therefore an important area of research.
How tin could improve fuel-cell catalysts
Researchers at HUST have investigated how incorporating tin into platinum-based catalysts could improve their performance.
Their latest research, published in the journal Small, focuses on a catalyst containing platinum, cobalt and tin (PtCoSn).
The team used a technique called atomic layer deposition, which enables materials to be built up layer by layer with exceptional precision. By alternating the deposition of different materials, this approach provides precise control over their composition and spatial distribution of individual components, offering unique opportunities to engineer complex catalyst architectures at the atomic scale.
This enabled them to incorporate tin and cobalt into tiny platinum-based particles, creating an alloy supported by a protective structure containing tin oxide. This distinctive architecture combines atomic-scale compositional control with hierarchical structural protection.
The tin-containing material helps improve the catalyst in two ways.
First, the combination of metals enhances the reaction involving oxygen, which is essential for generating electricity in the fuel cell.
Second, the tin oxide structure helps protect the catalyst from deterioration. It reduces the loss of cobalt from the alloy and helps prevent the tiny particles from moving and joining together, which can reduce their effectiveness over time.
Rather than replacing platinum, tin helps improve its performance and stability, potentially allowing fuel cells to operate more effectively for longer.
Promising results for fuel-cell durability
The researchers tested their catalyst in a laboratory PEM fuel cell, achieving a peak power density of 1.46 watts per square centimeter.
More importantly, the fuel-cell assembly showed only 14.4% performance degradation after 30,000 accelerated durability cycles.
These tests simulate some of the stresses experienced during fuel-cell operation, allowing researchers to investigate how quickly materials deteriorate. Although they do not directly translate into a specific number of years of real-world use, the results demonstrate encouraging durability under the conditions tested.
The research highlights how carefully controlling the arrangement of tin within a catalyst can improve both its activity and stability, helping address an important challenge in fuel-cell development.
Prof. Rong Chen, the HUST team leader stated: “What makes these results particularly exciting is that we have achieved both high fuel-cell performance and remarkable durability. By designing the catalyst architecture at the atomic scale, we can tackle the fundamental degradation mechanisms that have limited the lifetime of platinum-based catalysts.”
A future opportunity for tin
Although fuel cells are already commercially established in some sectors, tin-containing catalysts remain at the research stage.
Further work will be needed to evaluate its long-term performance, manufacturing costs and suitability for larger-scale production.
Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate how tin could contribute to improving a key component of hydrogen fuel cells.
With hydrogen technologies being developed for transport, stationary power and other energy applications, tin-containing catalysts represent another potential opportunity for the metal.
For more developments in emerging tin technologies, visit Tin Valley.
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