Electrochemical catalyst and manufacturing method thereof

Non-precious metal hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction catalyst obtained by heat-treating iron porphyrin-loaded MOFs

This technology is an electrochemical catalyst manufacturing method that produces metal porphyrin catalysts with Fe-N4 and Fe3C functional groups by inserting Fe-TCPP metal porphyrins into a PCN-333(Fe) porous metal-organic framework with evacuated internal pores, followed by heat treatment.

While noble metal catalysts such as platinum and palladium offer high corrosion resistance and redox efficiency, their high raw material costs have driven up product prices and hindered widespread adoption. Reducing noble metal content or replacing them with carbon catalysts has historically been limited by lower efficiency, complex manufacturing processes, and difficulties in removing impurities.

This technology utilizes a simple process of replacing synthesis solvents with lower-boiling alternatives and adding a porphyrin solution to a framework structure activated by heat treatment to obtain a carbonized catalyst that retains its structural integrity. It can be applied to water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment and fuel cell oxygen reduction cathodes, enabling the reduction of noble metal usage while securing both hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction activity.

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Key Features:

• A step of replacing the synthesis solvent inside the porous metal framework source with a lower-boiling alternative and activating it via heat treatment to evacuate internal pores
• A step of inserting metal porphyrin into the pores by adding the evacuated framework structure to a solution of dissolved metal porphyrin source
• A step of heat-treating the metal porphyrin structure to produce a catalyst with metal porphyrin supported within the porous metal framework
• A configuration using Fe-TCPP as the metal porphyrin source and PCN-333(Fe) as the framework structure to obtain a catalyst with Fe-N4 and Fe3C functional groups

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning for the development of new electrochemical catalyst systems using organic-inorganic hybrid porous materials.

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