Biomass‐Derived Catalyst Materials Prepared via Ionothermal Synthesis for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Anion‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The development of inexpensive platinum‐group‐metal (PGM)‐free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for advancing anion‑exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) toward cost‑effective and sustainable energy conversion. Herein, highly active iron‐ and manganese‐containing catalysts are synthesized using ionothermally derived carbon prepared from rapeseed press cake, a byproduct of rapeseed oil production. The bimetallic iron‐ and manganese‐containing catalyst is shown to exhibit increased durability during short‐term stability tests in rotating disk electrode (RDE) mode compared to monometallic materials. Gas diffusion electrode measurements were employed to further characterize the ORR performance of the catalyst materials under conditions more relevant to fuel cell operation, revealing differences in ORR activity compared with RDE results. When used as cathode catalysts in AEMFCs, the materials demonstrate competitive performance, achieving a maximum power density of 289 mW cm −2 . These results highlight the potential of biomass‑derived PGM‐free electrocatalysts as cost‐effective alternatives for AEMFC applications.