Executive Summary : | Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been studied for years due to their higher energy conversion efficiency and easy working temperatures. However, commercialization is hindered by the high costs of commercially used Pt-based catalysts, which play a crucial role in the slow cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To enhance electrocatalytic performance in fuel cells, research has focused on Pt-based alloys, where Pt atoms are substituted by less-precious metals. These alloys improve catalyst performance by altering the vacancy in the Pt 5d band, lowering the Pt-Pt interatomic distance, and modifying the electronic structures of Pt. However, most of these alloys have unsatisfactory durability due to particle growth, dissolution of the 3d metal, and carbon support corrosion under acidic environments. Intermetallic alloys, which have metal atoms bonded by strong d-orbital interaction, have higher withstanding power against chemical oxidation and etching in fuel cell operating mediums. This research proposal aims to synthesize intermetallic alloys of Pt, Co, and Ni using the facile molten salt synthesis method, fabricate MEAs using these as cathode catalysts, and evaluate fuel cell performance under various environments. |