New fuel cell breakthrough could help power energy-hungry data centers
A new nanostructured carbon design lets fuel-cell catalysts use tiny amounts of platinum while remaining remarkably stable and efficient. The breakthrough could help hydrogen fuel cells become a more practical way to power data centers, vehicles, and other energy-intensive technologies.
The rapid growth of data centers in the United States is straining the nation's electricity supply, as these facilities demand huge amounts of power to operate computing equipment and maintain proper cooling. According to estimates from the Electric Power Research Institute, data centers could account for up to 9% of annual U.S. electricity generation by 2030, compared to just 4% in 2023.
To address this increasing demand, researchers are investigating ways to boost the efficiency and sustainability of low-temperature fuel cells, which could serve as an alternative source of electricity for data centers. A team led by Gang Wu, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, has developed a novel approach that could potentially expand the use of fuel cells as an alternative energy source.
Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with water and heat as byproducts. Catalysts play a crucial role in facilitating this reaction while minimizing energy losses and ensuring long-term performance. Platinum is considered one of the most effective catalyst materials, but its precious nature makes its use expensive. Researchers are therefore seeking to maximize the effectiveness of small quantities of platinum, typically less than one quarter of a milligram per square centimeter.
One promising alternative to conventional platinum alloys is platinum intermetallic catalysts, which offer improved activity and stability. However, producing these catalysts involves a tradeoff; they generally need to be annealed at temperatures below 700°C to maintain small, evenly distributed nanoparticles. This temperature is often insufficient to trigger a highly ordered atomic arrangement, which is essential for maximizing catalyst activity and durability.
Wu and his colleagues developed a new carbon structure composed of porous, hollow carbon spheres containing radial nanochannels and substantial pore space. This unique support allows for the densely packed and evenly distributed platinum cobalt intermetallic nanoparticles, enabling them to maintain their ordered structure at higher temperatures without clumping together.
This innovation effectively balances the tradeoff between achieving a highly ordered atomic structure and ensuring an even distribution of very small catalyst particles.
In tests, the carbon nanostructured support supported the platinum-cobalt catalyst at temperatures up to 1000°C, resulting in a highly ordered structure while keeping the nanoparticles smaller than 5 nanometers and well distributed. This combination of larger pores, carefully organized pore sizes, and high surface area allowed the catalyst to retain 85% of its performance after 150,000 voltage cycles, equivalent to roughly 25,000 hours of operation.
As a result, this breakthrough could significantly enhance the efficiency and longevity of fuel cells, potentially reducing the strain on the U.S. energy grid from data centers.
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