N-doped carbon nanomaterials as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in acidic fuel cells

Abstract

Provided is a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell comprising such assemblies. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, the cathode comprising a metal-free, heteroatom doped carbon based material. The metal-free, heteroatom doped carbon based material may include heteroatom doped carbon nanotubes, e.g., heteroatom doped vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. The metal-free, heteroatom doped carbon based material can be any graphitic or partially graphitized carbons, which may also be chosen from heteroatom doped graphene material. The heteroatom doped graphene material may be a composite of heteroatom doped graphene and carbon nanotubes, and optionally comprises conductive carbon particles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.