LANL PGM Free

High-Performance Ultralow-Cost Non-Precious Metal Catalyst System for AEM Electrolyzer

Recipient Los Alamos National Laboratory/LANL (PI: Hoon Taek Chung)

Subs Pajarito Powder (PI: Barr Halevi)

Water Splitting Technology LTE

Status Awarded

Abstract High-performance and low-cost water splitting catalysts are critical for meeting the DOE hydrogen production target of less than $2/kg-H2. In this work, we propose to develop an entirely platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) complete catalyst system for the anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer. At the anode, perovskite-oxide (La1-xSrx)CoyO3-δ catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with reduced oxygen vacancy (δ) will be developed by increasing lanthanide content and decreasing alkaline-earth-metal content. At the cathode, bimetallic La-doped Ni-based (Ni-La) catalysts with lanthanum content varying from 0 to 16 atomic percent (Ni to Ni5La) will be developed for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In addition to assuring very high performance, which will approach that of precious metal catalysts, this proposed complete catalyst system promises to be ultralow cost, required to meet the DOE-established H2 production target. LANL will act as the project lead and catalyst developer. Pajarito Powder, LLC will be responsible for the catalyst performance evaluation in an AEM electrolyzer utilizing 25 cm2 MEAs. Pajarito Powder will also be responsible for the scale-up and commercialization of the PGM-free OER and HER catalysts developed in the project.