Electrocatalytic Performances of PdZr/C, PdZrMo/C, and PtZrMo/C Cathode Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

Abstract This study comprehensively investigates the synthesis and performance evaluation of nanoscale PdZr/C, PdZrMo/C, and PtZrMo/C catalysts as cathode electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The structural and morphological characteristics of the catalysts were elucidated using XRD and SEM‐EDX. The electrochemical performance of catalysts was systematically analyzed via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results indicate that the synthesized catalysts exhibit 2‐3 times higher catalytic activity than commercial Pt/C and Pd/C counterparts. Open circuit voltage (OCV) measurements conducted at 40 °C demonstrated values of 0.88 V for PdZr/C, 0.89 V for PdZrMo/C, and 0.92 V for PtZrMo/C. Furthermore, the maximum power densities achieved were 121.55 mW/cm 2 for PtZrMo/C, 89.96 mW/cm 2 for PdZr/C, and 82.92 mW/cm 2 for PdZrMo/C, signifying the superior performance of PtZrMo/C. At 70 °C, the PdZrMo/C and PdZr/C catalysts outperformed conventional Pd/C, underlining their enhanced electrocatalytic efficiency. Based on the maximum power density results, the electrocatalytic activity hierarchy was determined as PtZrMo/C > PdZrMo/C > PdZr/C > Pt/C > Pd/C. Additionally, efficiency analyses based on maximum power outputs further corroborated the potential of these catalysts in advancing PEM fuel cell technology. This study provides valuable insights into the development of high‐performance electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications.