SBIR Phase II: High Utilization Catalyst for the Direct Oxidation of Methanol in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目解决了与开发商业上可行的直接甲醇燃料电池（dmfc）相关的性能和成本问题。具体而言，将开发用于直接甲醇质子交换膜（PEM）燃料电池的高利用率、低催化剂负载的膜电极组件（MEA）。在第一阶段，PSI Technology （PSIT）的专利电化学催化（ECC）技术成功应用于电沉积具有特定成分和形态的Pt-Ru合金。结果表明，催化剂负载为2.0 mg/cm2的ECC阳极的甲醇氧化性能与负载为5.0 mg/cm2的未负载Pt-Ru合金相当，超过了第一阶段计划的目标。第二阶段的研究将包括DMFC的阳极和阴极。阴极工作包括电极结构和ECC优化两部分。阳极研究将继续第一阶段的工作，尝试进一步改变电极结构和/或增加催化剂负载，这两种方法都可以带来更高的性能。此外，在第一阶段开发的合金电沉积技术将应用于三元合金，如Pt-Ru-WO3，最近的文献表明其具有更高的甲醇氧化活性。最后，第二阶段研究的目标是dmfc的另一个高成本组成部分，即调查在不使用目前使用的昂贵的碳纤维纸衬底的情况下制备MEA的程序。通过扩大研究范围，包括阴极和阳极的优化，三元合金电沉积的研究，以及替代的，更便宜的支撑结构，直接甲醇PEM燃料电池商业化的障碍得到了更充分的解决。这项技术的成功商业化将大大提高dmfc在车辆应用和固定发电方面的成本效益。

Jayne 9615047 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project addresses both performance and cost issues associated with developing commercially viable Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs). Specifically, a high utilization, low catalyst loading membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) for a direct methanol proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell will be developed. During Phase I, PSI Technology's (PSIT's) patented electrochemical catalyzation (ECC) technique was successfully adapted to electrodeposit Pt-Ru alloys with specific composition and morphology. Methanol oxidation performance for the resultant ECC anode with a catalyst loading of 2.0 mg/cm2 was shown to be equivalent to the unsupported Pt-Ru alloy at a loading of 5.0 mg/cm2, which exceeded the goals of the Phase I program. The Phase II research will encompass both the anode and the cathode of a DMFC. The cathode work consists of both electrode structure and ECC optimization. The anode research continues the Phase I work by attempting additional alterations of the electrode structure and/or increasing the catalyst loading, both of which could lead to still higher performance. In addition, the technique developed during Phase I for alloy electrodeposition will be applied to ternary alloys such as Pt-Ru-WO3, for which recent literature suggests even higher methanol oxidation activity. Lastly, the Phase II research targets another high cost component of DMFCs by investigating procedures to prepare the MEA without using the costly carbon fiber paper backing that is currently employed. By widening the scope of the research to include optimization of the cathode and anode, investigation of ternary alloy electrodeposition, and alternative, less expensive support structures, hindrances to commercializing the direct methanol PEM fuel cell are more fully addressed. Successful commercialization of this technology will substantially improve the cost effectiveness of DMFCs for vehicular applications as well as for stationary power generation.