Hussain Aqeel1, Olli Pakkanen2, Olli Sorsa2, Tanja Kallio2, Esko Kauppinen1 and Kari Laasonen2

1) Department of Applied Physics, Nanomaterial Group, P.O. Box 15100, FI-00076 Aalto

2) Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto

Sustainable platinum group metal free catalyst materials, SUPER

IntroductionStoring energy is becoming an increasing problem as we are gradually shifting from fossil fuels towards

renewable energy. However, renewable energy often provides an intermittent source of electricity. In order to

provide electricity consistently, energy must be stored. One method is hydrogen evolution in an electrolyzer by

electrocatalytic water splitting. Chemical energy in hydrogen can be converted back to electricity in a fuel cell.

Current catalysts are expensive platinum group metals which are considered as critical raw materials. The focus

of this project is to design and synthesize platinum group free electrocatalyst for these applications.

SCEIN SWCNT

Carbon nanotubesCatalyst synthesis

Fuel cell• A power source which has high

energy efficiency and scalability

• Commercial catalyst Pt/C has

insufficient durability and too

high cost for commercialization

• Inverse reactions for power

storage (electrolyzer)

Previous results

a) the same activity for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction as platinum

b) the same reaction kinetics as platinum

c) good durability vs. cycling

d) good durability vs. timeTavakkoli M., Kallio T., Reynaud O., Nasibulin A.G., Johans C., Sainio J., Jing H., Kauppinen E.I., Laasonen K., Angew. Chem., 127 (2015) 4618-4621

Computational research• The main method for calculations is

Density functional theory (DFT)

• Computational methods can be used to

study

• reaction barriers of different

reaction mechanisms on

different surfaces

• the reasons for catalytic

activities

• Good electrical

conductivity

• High chemical and

mechanical stability

• CNTs can be

functionalized to make

them active for different

electrochemical reactions

• Functionalizations can be

nitrogen, sulphur and

phosphor doping

• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are

synthesized in a vertical floating

catalyst reactor

• Catalyst Nanoparticles (NPs)

are generated in the reactor

from decomposition of

organometallic compounds at

high temperature

• The Carbon Nanotubes grow on

NPs from hydrocarbons

• The product is collected on a

filter