SBIR Phase II: Commercially Viable Deposition of Catalytic Films onto Proton Conducting Membranes

* 9801444亨特 这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目将解决质子传导燃料氧化剂分离膜的阳极和阴极侧的催化膜的应用。 在质子交换膜（PEM）的情况下，例如NAFION，催化膜已经通过几种方法应用，具有不同程度的成功。 大多数生产高性能燃料电池的方法对于大众市场应用来说太昂贵了。 燃烧化学气相沉积（CCVD）是一个强有力的候选人，以提供一个低成本的解决方案，催化涂层到PEMS。 CCVD的主要优点是能够以生产友好的方式在开放的气氛中存款高质量的薄膜。 该方法使用简单、低成本的设备和相对便宜的待涂覆材料的前体。 第一阶段的努力证明，CCVD可以有效地存款铂到NAFION膜，以产生一个功能的燃料电池组件没有任何可测量的退化的PEM。 第二阶段的研究将集中在一个原型涂层系统的建设，解决可扩展性问题，并实现性能。 价值数十亿美元的燃料电池机会范围从航天器到固定和运输能源。 如果获得资助，低成本的CCVD技术可以在PEM燃料电池技术的广泛商业化中发挥重要作用。 ***

*** 9801444 Hunt This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will address the application of catalytic films on the anodic and cathodic sides of proton conducting fuel-oxidant separation membranes. In the case of proton exchange membranes (PEMs), such as NAFION, catalytic films have been applied by several methods with varying degrees of success. Most methods that yield high performance fuel cells are far too expensive for mass-market applications. The Combustion Chemical Vapor Deposition (CCVD) is a strong candidate to provide a low-cost solution for catalytic coatings onto PEMS. CCVD's primary advantage is the ability to deposit high quality thin films in the open atmosphere in a production friendly manner. The process uses simple, low-cost equipment and relatively inexpensive precursors of the materials to be coated. The Phase I effort proved that CCVD could effectively deposit platinum onto a NAFION membrane to produce a functioning fuel cell assembly without any measurable deterioration of the PEM. Phase II research will focus on construction of a prototype coating system, resolution of scalability issues, and performance achievement. The billion-dollar fuel cell opportunity range from spacecraft to stationary and transportation energy sources. If funded, the low cost CCVD technology can play an important role in the widespread commercialization of PEM fuel cell technology. ***