NON-NOBLE METAL CATALYSTS FOR METAL-AIR OF FUEL CELL CATHODES

PLATINUM WHEN USED AS AN ELECTROCATALYST FOR OXYGEN REDUCTION IN METAL-AIR BATTERIES AND FUEL CELLS SUFFERS FROM THE DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH COST, SUSCEPTIBILITY TO POISONING, AND SINTERING. PYROLYZED MACROCYCLICS CONTINUE TO ATTRACT INCREASING ATTENTION AS ALTERNATE CATALYSTS, ALTHOUGH STABILITY PROBLEMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN FULLY ADDRESSED. THE OPERATING MECHANISM OF THESE CARBON-NITROGEN-IRON (C-N-FE) COMPLEXES TOWARDS OXYGEN REDUCTION IS FAR FROM UNDERSTOOD AND PROMISES TO BE AN INTERESTING AREA OF RESEARCH. IT IS PLANNED TO STUDY NOVEL APPROACHES TO OBTAIN N-FE ACTIVATED CARBON, WHICH WILL HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE COMMON MECHANISM OF C-N-FE ACTIVATED ELECTROCATALYSTS AND IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF ELECTROCATALYST LIFE.