Due to the central role of catalysts in fuel cells, an increased demand for precious metals such as platinum is expected during the energy transition. For this reason, various approaches are being pursued in collaboration with project partners ReMetall AG, Clean-Lasersysteme and Dr. Laure Plasmatechnologie as part of the “PGM-FC” project to recover catalyst materials such as precious metals and cobalt from fuel cells (FC) and recycle them in a closed-loop process. The aim is to increase the sustainability and economic efficiency of FC production. After the (precious) metals have been recovered from the input materials, FCs or electrolysers, at the project partners’ premises, the catalytically active materials are recycled in FCs at the ZBT. The ZBT is pursuing two objectives in the project. Firstly, analysis at various points in the cycle aims to identify potential critical points in the recycling process and optimise the process accordingly. Secondly, the ZBT is also deepening and expanding its existing expertise in catalysts by researching innovative processes for recycling the recyclate in fuel cells without compromising their performance. These recycling processes include the wet chemical bonding of catalytically active nanoparticles, the synthesis of carbon on the nanoparticles in a plasma-in-liquid process, and the direct plasma spraying of nanoparticles onto metal substrates.
