Biomass-derived catalyst powers up clean energy

The pursuit of clean, sustainable energy has driven researchers to explore innovative materials and processes. However, a major hurdle in the development of advanced energy storage devices, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries, is sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). While platinum-based catalysts have traditionally dominated the field, their high cost and scarcity warrant the need for more affordable and abundant alternatives.  

To that end, a group of researchers at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), led by Professor Jin-Gang Liu, developed a novel, high-performance catalyst derived from sustainable biomass. Their findings are published in the KeAi journal Green Energy & Environment.

The team's approach involves utilizing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), a readily available biomass material, as the foundation for the catalyst.

“By combining CMC with iron and phosphorus, we created a unique structure with "Fe-N₃P" active sites,” shares Liu. “This structure enhances catalytic activity by facilitating the removal of key reaction intermediates, ultimately boosting ORR efficiency.”

The researchers compared their biomass-derived catalyst (FeNPC) to traditional options and found it to outperform them significantly in both alkaline solutions and zinc-air batteries. FeNPC exhibited superior activity, stability and power density, making it a potential candidate for real-world applications.  

“One of the most notable aspects of this research is the use of biomass as a starting material. This approach not only reduces reliance on limited resources, but also aligns with the principles of a circular economy, encouraging further exploration of biomass-derived catalysts for various clean energy applications,” says Liu.

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Contact the author: Jin-Gang Liu, Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China, E-mail: liujingang@ecust.edu.cn.

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