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A research team led by Professor Jong Sung Yu of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST has developed a new alloy structure that can significantly enhance the performance of electrode catalysts, a key component of hydrogen fuel cells.

This study enhanced the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode, a key factor in fuel cell efficiency, and is expected to contribute to the development of next-generation eco-friendly energy technologies.

The findings are in Advanced Materials.

Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining attention as an eco-friendly technology that emits only water in the process of generating electricity. However, platinum (Pt), a precious metal, is primarily used as the catalyst required to improve performance and durability. As a result, efficiency enhancement and cost reduction have remained major research challenges.

The research team introduced transition metals with "magnetic properties," such as iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co), into platinum-based alloys to induce unique magnetic characteristics in the atomic arrangement.

As a result, they succeeded in developing a new structure (L1₀-PtPdFe), an ordered ternary alloy of platinum-palladium-iron (Pt-Pd-Fe). This catalyst showed much higher ORR activity than the conventional alloy of the same composition (Cubic L1₂-PtPdFe). This improvement was found to result from strong magnetic interactions arising from the atomic arrangement.

Even in rigorous durability tests conducted under real hydrogen fuel cell operating conditions, this catalyst exceeded the 2025 activity and durability targets set by the U.S. Department of Energy. The research team explained that this achievement is highly significant as "it is the first to identify that magnetic properties, which had not previously been considered, act as a key factor in determining fuel cell catalyst activity."

Professor Jong Sung Yu stated, "This study presents a new principle for enhancing the performance of hydrogen fuel cells. We have identified magnetic properties as another critical factor determining catalyst performance, and we expect that this will serve as an important turning point for the development of next-generation hydrogen fuel cells."

This research was conducted by Muhammad Irfansyah Maulana, a Ph.D. student of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST, as the first author. In addition, this study was also conducted in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Seoin Back at Korea University, which provided theoretical analysis.