Katsuyuki Matsubayashi

Pt-free cathode catalysts prepared via multi-step pyrolysis of Fe phthalocyanine and phenolic resin for fuel cells.

Pt-free cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have been prepared by multi-step pyrolysis of FePc and PhRs, in the best of which show extensively high initial cell performance and good durability compared to other present precious-metal-free cathode catalysts to date.

The Role of Fe in the Preparation of Carbon Alloy Cathode Catalysts

Pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine/phenolic resin (FePc/PhRs) and phthtalocyanine/phenolic resin (Pc/PhRs) was studied to clarify the effect of Fe during the preparation of carbon alloy cathode catalysts. FePc/PhRs pyrolyzed at 600° showed the best electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction. CHN elemental analysis suggests that the catalysts with higher nitrogen content tend to show better catalytic activities. The results of TG/DTA/MS and IR suggest that Fe increases the nitrogen content of the catalysts by enhancing the interaction of phthalocyanine moiety and phenolic resin.

Multistep Pyrolysis of Fe Phthalocyanine and Phenolic Resin for Nonprecious Metal Cathode Catalysts

Pyrolysis protocol of a mixture of Fe phthalocyanine and phenolic resin was studied to develop non-precious metal cathode catalysts for PEMFCs. Multi-step pyrolysis of the precursor improves both catalytic activity and durability of the resulting carbon materials. The maximum output with these catalysts is 0.42 W cm-2, at 0.2 MPa and 80oC.