Professor Ahn Ji Hwan’s Research Team Successfully Develops and Applies a New Fuel Cell Catalyst
Expected to be commercialized quickly due to a more efficient manufacturing and refinement process

SeoulTech’s MSDE Major Professor Ahn Ji Hwan’s research team (Researchers Shin Jung Woo, Oh Sung Gook, Lee Sung Jaw, Koh Do Hyun, Yang Byung Chan, and Kim Hyung Jun) has successfully created a new energy battery catalyst using the latest semiconductor refinement process that has better durability and capabilities than existing catalysts.

▲From Left – Professor Ahn Ji Hwan, Researchers Shin Jung Woo, Oh Sung Gook, Lee Sung Jae

Fuel cells are key components of recently popularized nitrogen-based economies and nitrogen based electric vehicles that allow for highly efficient electrical energy conversion and environmentally friendly systems. Specifically, the catalyst layer based on precious metals is a key factor of the fuel cell MEA and improvements in the capabilities and durability of the component is important.

Professor Ahn’s team used an atomic layer disposition process on the existing platinum catalyst particle surface to coat a very thin (<5nm) mesh like layer of porous cerium oxide film.  

The atomic layer disposition process is one of the recent semiconductor processes that dispositions a thin layer on the atomic level. Through this method, the team was able to manufacture a platinum and porous cerium oxide film compound catalyst electrode that features twice the stability and 50% lower capability loss compared to existing electrodes and applied it to a solid state thin film fuel cell that displays high capabilities of 0.8W/cm2 at operating temperatures of 500℃.

▲Mimetic diagram of the reaction of the platinum and porous cerium oxide film compound catalyst electrode

The results of this study show that stabilization and improved response of the platinum and porous cerium oxide film compound catalyst electrode as a result of the mutual application of platinum and porous cerium oxide film. Commercialization is expected to be expedited as a more efficient manufacturing and refinement process was implemented.

The results of the research were selected as the supplementary cover article of the esteemed journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces published by the American Chemical Society. The research was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Information and Communications New Researcher Support Project, the Ministry of Industry and Trade Creative Fusion Specialization Project and Mechanical Components Professionals Cultivation Project with Dr. Park Jun Seok from Stanford University participating with the research.