Peat turned into low-cost catalyst, could replace platinum in fuel cells

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, PTB, and Estonian universities have demonstrated that well-decomposed peat can serve as a sustainable, low-cost precursor for iron–nitrogen–carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts, potentially replacing expensive platinum in fuel cells. Platinum currently dominates as the catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in anion exchange membrane fuel cells, but its high cost limits widespread adoption. Fe-N-C catalysts derived from peat offer a cheaper alternative, with complex porous structures that facilitate efficient transport of hydrogen, oxygen, and water, enhancing fuel cell performance. Using advanced small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques at the BESSY II synchrotron, the team analyzed the microstructure of peat-derived catalysts synthesized at varying temperatures and with different pore-modifying agents. They identified 13 structural factors influencing catalytic efficiency, notably that a pore curvature of at least three nanometers improves oxygen reduction and reduces unwanted hydrogen peroxide formation. This detailed structural insight,