A group of researchers have discovered the secrets behind zirconium nitride (ZrN), a material that plays a crucial role in clean energy reactions. Their findings will contribute to the development of future designs for transition metal nitrides, paving the way for cleaner energy generation.
The study, featured as the front cover article in the journal Chemical Science on July 26, 2023, reveals the potential of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC). These devices utilize hydrogen and oxygen to produce clean electricity through chemical reactions, specifically the hydrogen oxidation reaction and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). AEMFCs can operate in alkaline conditions, making them suitable for earth-based catalysts and offering a more cost-effective alternative to platinum, a highly efficient catalyst material.
Recent studies have demonstrated that ZrN exhibits impressive performance in the ORR, even surpassing platinum, when used in alkaline media. Although ZrN is not an abundant material on Earth, it is still more cost-effective than other alternatives. However, the reasons behind its exceptional performance have remained a mystery to scientists.
“To understand the underlying mechanisms of ZrN, we employed surface state analysis, electric field effect simulations, and pH-dependent microkinetic modeling in our new theoretical framework,” explains Hao Li, associate professor at Tohoku University’s Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) and corresponding author of the paper.
2023-09-21 13:24:04
Link from phys.org