Recent Advances in Synthesis and Utilization of Ultra-low Loading of Precious Metal-based Catalysts for Fuel Cells

Cost of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is one of the most acute setbacks delaying this technology's worldwide deployment and commercialization. Platinum, the most common and effective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), is a scarce element which accounts for more than 45 % of PEMFC stack cost. One of the preferred proposed paths to substantially reduce stack costs is by dramatically lowering precious metal loading in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to account for up to 11.3 g_Pt per midsize vehicle (US-DOE 2020 target). This Minireview surveys the latest synthetical and methodical advances in making and utilizing ultra-low loading precious metal ORR catalyst in PEM fuel cells.