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Comparative techno-economic and life-cycle analysis of precious versus non-precious metal electrocatalysts: the case of PEM fuel cell cathodes.
- Source :
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Green Chemistry . 12/21/2023, Vol. 25 Issue 24, p10458-10471. 14p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- Sluggish kinetics in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) require significant quantities of expensive Pt-based nanoparticles on carbon (Pt/C) at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This catalyst requirement hinders their large-scale implementation. Single atom Fe in N-doped C (Fe–N–C) electrocatalysts offer the best non-Pt-based ORR activities to date, but their environmental impacts have not been studied and their production costs are rarely quantified. Herein, we report a comparative life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of replacing Pt/C with Fe–N–C at the cathode of an 80 kW PEMFC stack. In the baseline scenario (20 gPt/Cvs. 690 gFe–N–C), we estimate that Fe–N–C could reduce damages on ecosystems and human health by 88–90% and 30–44%, respectively, while still increasing global warming potential by 53–92% and causing a comparable impact on resource depletion. The environmental impacts of Pt/C predominantly arise from the Pt precursor while those of Fe–N–C are presently dominated by the electricity consumption. The monetized costs of environmental externalities for both Fe–N–C and Pt/C catalysts exceed their respective direct production costs. Based on catalyst performance with learning curve analysis at 500 000 PEMFC stacks per annum, we estimate replacing Pt/C with Fe–N–C would increase PEMFC stack cost from 13.8 to 41.6 USD per kW. The cost increases despite a reduction in cathode catalyst production cost from 3.41 to 0.79 USD per kW (excluding environmental externalities). To be cost-competitive with a Pt-based PEMFC stack delivering 2020 US Department of Energy target of 1160 mW cm−2 (at 0.657 V), the same stack with an Fe–N–C cathode would need to reach 874 mW cm−2, equivalent to a 200% performance improvement. These findings demonstrate the need for continued Fe–N–C activity development with sustainable synthesis routes in mind to replace Pt-based cathode catalyst in PEMFCs. Based on forecasting scenarios of fuel cell vehicle deployment targets, we find that Pt consumption would be constrained by Pt supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14639262
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 24
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Green Chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 174165554
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d3gc03206j