fuel cells, automobiles, vehicles, fuel cell catalysts

A part of this report was introduced in the June 2022 issue of our periodical, “Yano E plus.”

– Expensive Platinum (Pt) Has Been Widely Used as Fuel Cell Catalysts; However, Urgently Required is to Reduce the Amount of Use of Platinum (Pt) by Improving the Function and Durability of Catalysts –

1. What are Fuel Cells?

1-1. Fuel Cells for Automobiles

1-2. Stationary Fuel Cells

2. What are Fuel Cell Catalysts?

3. Market Size Forecast of Fuel Cell Catalysts

4. Research and Development by Companies and Universities

4-1. ISHIFUKU Metal Industry Co., Ltd.

1) Features of ISHIFUKU Metal Industry’s Catalysts for Fuel Cells

2) Support Design: Development of Catalysts Applying Ultra High Durable Conductive Diamonds

3) Catalyst Components: Development of Catalysts with Nanosheet Structure to Prevent Degradation Caused by Aggregation of Platinum Particles

4) Creation of Business with Catalysts

4-2. Kyushu University

4-3. Shinshu University

1) Pt Core-Shell Nanosheet Catalysts

2) Pt Monoatomic Layer Nanosheet Catalysts

4-4. Tokyo Institute of Technology

1) Catalysts Obtained by Heat Treatment and Purification of Polyimide

2) NEDO Project in Progress: Realization of Alternative Catalysts with 14-Membered Ring Iron (Fe) Complexes Stable in Acidic Electrolytes as New Materials Leading to Non-Platinum PEFC

i. Heat-Treated Iron (Fe) Complex Models with Higher Catalytic Activity and Stability

ii. Preparation of 14-Membered Ring Iron (Fe) Complexes and Verification of Catalytic Activity and Stability

4-5. Tohoku University

1) Cathodes: Improvement of Performance of Fuel Cell Catalysts by Adding Third Elements

2) Anodes: Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction and Hydrogen Peroxide Generation Properties of Ir and Ir-Pt Alloy Single Crystal Model Catalysts

i. Ir Single Crystal (111), (100), (110) Models

ii. Ir-Pt Alloy Single Crystal Models Constructed on Ir(111) Substrate Surfaces

4-6. The University of Yamanashi

1) Anodes: Development of Platinum-Cobalt (Pt-Co) Alloy Hydrogen Electrode Catalysts that Significantly Reduce Fuel Cell Degradation

i. Pt-Skin/Pt-Co Alloy Catalysts with Higher Acid Resistance

ii. Performance Comparison by Accelerated Aging Tests

2) Cathodes: Development of Innovative Cathode Catalyst Materials Achieving High Efficiency, High Power, and High Durability PEFCs

i. Ceramics-Supported Catalysts

ii. Carbon-Supported Catalysts

iii. Electrostatic Coating (Spraying) Method

5. Future Prospects