Iron-based catalyst promises cheaper fuel cells

Fuel cells are seen as a vital technology in decarbonising the transport sector, but until now have relied on catalysts made with platinum, one of Earth’s most scarce and expensive metals. Now, a pan-European team headed by Imperial chemists has created a catalyst using only iron, carbon, and nitrogen, elements which are abundant and cheap, and could make hydrogen fuel cells dramatically more competitive.  

“Currently, around 60 per cent of the cost of a single fuel cell is the platinum for the catalyst. To make fuel cells a real viable alternative to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, for example, we need to bring that cost down,” said lead researcher Professor Anthony Kucernak, from Imperial’s Department of Chemistry.

“Our cheaper catalyst design should make this a reality, and allow deployment of significantly more renewable energy systems that use hydrogen as fuel, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions and putting the world on a path to net-zero emissions.”