Palladium alloys for oxygen reduction in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

The high cost of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) electrodes is largely due to the use of platinum-containing electrocatalysts at the cathode. Many efforts have focused on the development of less expensive alternatives to platinum-based cathode catalysts with comparable or enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic activity. One approach is to replace Pt with other catalytically-active noble metals and to alloy the noble metals with base metals to both enhance their activity, through modification of their electronic structure, and to reduce the overall catalyst cost. We report on systems and method for screening and making electrocatalysts for ORR with alloys of palladium and select group 3-12 metals. The results can help in designing better electrocatalysts for fuel cells and other applications.