Could Nickel Replace Platinum as a Cheaper Catalyst in Fuel Cells?

Traditionally fuel cells have been produced using a platinum base for the catalyst. The platinum is placed into water to split hydrogen from oxygen, however, this process is expensive and platinum is rare. The latest figures show that there is not enough platinum to sustain the world on hydrogen-based fuel cells.

A group of researchers in France, however, have developed a new process in which nickel, a much cheaper and prolific substance, can be used to replace platinum as a catalyst. The tests were published this week in an issue of Science, an academic journal. The tests show how nickel can be used to mimick a similar process when platinum is used.

Vincent Artero, one of the researchers involved in the project, said that an anaerobic-living algae was used to show how similar processes in fuel cells can be substituted. The research is being done at the Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique near Paris.

Nickel fuel cell electrodes are 20 percent less in cost than their platinum counterparts. Since the platinum catalyst makes up roughly one third of costs for fuel cell production, replacing it with nickel or a cheaper allow would effectively lower the production cost of fuel cells to a more sustainable cost.

Fuel cells are being looked at more and more has the scramble for alternative fuel sources becomes more pressing. 192 countries are convening this week in Copenhagen to discuss global climate change issues. An important part of emissions reduction will come in the form of finding emission reducing replacements for traditional diesel and petrol.