From Waste to Worth: Upcycled Polystyrene-Derived Carbon Supports for Enhanced Durability in Fuel Cells
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초록
내용
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology demands the development of catalysts that are both highly active and durable while minimizing platinum (Pt) usage to lower costs. In this study, we present a scalable method for synthesizing carbon-bound catalysts by upcycling polystyrene (PS) polymer. Our technique employs solvent-based hyper-crosslinking to create a hierarchically porous structure in a single-step process. The resulting PS-derived carbon support, loaded with Pt, features a mesoporous structure that enhances mass transport within PEMFCs, even at a low Pt loading of 0.05 mgPt cm-2. This catalyst demonstrates exceptional durability, maintaining 92.1% of its initial power density after 30,000 cycles, attributed to its carbon-bound structure and robust catalyst-support interactions. In comparison, commercial Pt/C retains only 35.8% of its power density after the same number of cycles.