MN-BASED OXIDE NANOMATERIALS AS NON-NOBLE METAL CATALYSTS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL OXYGEN REDUCTION

摘要

Electrochemical energy storage and conversion play an important role in the development of sustainable technologies to mitigate the global warming and lower our dependence on fossil fuels. Fuel cells are the representative electrochemical devices that can convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy with high efficiency and low emission of pollutants. However, the commercialization of fuel cells is severely hampered by the sluggish oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) in the cathode, which demands the exclusive use of Pt-based catalysts. As Pt is expensive and scarce, extensive efforts have focused on improving the catalytic activity of Pt alloys to lower the Pt loading, and more attractively, exploring non-precious metal catalysts.