A non-noble Cr-Ni-based catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells

We report on a new type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell based on a hydroxide ion conductive polymer combined with a non-noble chromium-nickel (Cr-Ni) catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We study variable fractions of Cr in Ni by density functional theory simulating the thermodynamic potentials characterizing the ORR. We found increased ORR catalytic activity employing the rotating disk electrode technique. The polarization curve and power densities measured for the constructed fuel cell indicate considerable performance improvement with the Cr-Ni catalyst. Thus we expect that this kind of fuel cell may open up alternative routes in fuel cell research using non-noble catalysts.