PEMGALVANOKAT – Long-life, platinum-reduced cathodes for PEM fuel cells

Innovative combination

First, alloy and core-shell nanoparticles with a greatly reduced platinum content (Pt-X, X = Ni, Co, Cu) are produced in a flow reactor. These are then deposited directly as highly porous electrodes on gas diffusion layers using galvanic dispersion deposition. In a further step, they are processed into membrane electrode assemblies (MEA).

Goals include:
– Reducing the platinum content through Pt alloys and core-shell nanoparticles
– Increasing long-term stability through nanoparticle deposition on a Ni-P bonding matrix
– Scalable production in a continuous process

“This project aims to increase the performance of PEMFCs and significantly reduce costs at the same time. This will primarily benefit SMEs in the catalyst and electrode manufacturing sector that want to secure their competitiveness in the growing hydrogen and fuel cell market,” explains project manager and expert scientist Ivan Radev from ZBT.

Electrochemical Components Department