Operando SPECTROscopies for unveiling the activity and Stability mechanisms of novel non-precious metal Cathode catalysts under OPEration in fuel cell and electrolyzer – SPECTROSCOPE

A combined experimental-theoretical approach by employing operando X-ray absorption synchrotron techniques (XANES, EXAFS) with advanced ab initio modelling tools will provide unprecedented structural and electronic information on the nature, number and modifications of active sites during oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution under operation in PEMFC and PEMEL, respectively. Novel structural and mechanistic insights governing the activity and, even more critical, the degradation of such materials will be acquired for the first time under operating conditions and in the environment of PEM-based cells, characterized with a polymer electrolyte, moving the field beyond liquid-electrolyte XAS studies performed hitherto. This will allow us establishing novel understanding and guidelines for durable PEM cells catalysed by non-precious metal electrocatalysts in the near future.

The first steps of the project have allowed the identification by X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the species present in FeMoS materials synthesised according to different protocols. This study will be fundamental for the understanding of the in-situ operando operations to be carried out.
The operando characterisation of the FeSn-NC catalysts allowed a better understanding of the reaction mechanisms catalysed by these bimetallic materials, which are the first of this type to be studied.

Study of complex mechanisms, such as degradation phenomena, using PEMFC and PEMEL cells under working conditions.

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The research objective of the project SPECTROSCOPE is the in operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) study of novel non-precious metal electrocatalysts in low temperature polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and electrolyzers (PEMEL), also involving the development of a synchrotron platform for such cells. The investigated materials will be metal-nitrogen-carbon and metal-chalcogenide catalysts for oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution, respectively. A combined experimental-theoretical approach by employing operando X-ray absorption synchrotron techniques (XANES, EXAFS) with advanced ab initio modelling tools will provide unprecedented structural and electronic information on the nature, number and modifications of active sites during oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution under operation in PEMFC and PEMEL, respectively. Novel structural and mechanistic insights governing the activity and, even more critical, the degradation of such materials will be acquired for the first time under operating conditions and in the environment of PEM-based cells, characterized with a polymer electrolyte, moving the field beyond liquid-electrolyte XAS studies performed hitherto. This will allow us establishing novel understanding and guidelines for durable PEM cells catalyzed by non-precious metal electrocatalysts in the near future.