SBIR Phase I: Novel Catalyzed Nanotubular Structures for Advanced Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将利用一种新型的碳纳米管材料，为质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)开发一种创新的电极结构。这项工作的创新之处在于通过研究新型催化剂载体结构来解决PEM燃料电池的性能和成本问题。这项工作利用了物理科学公司(PSI)和佛罗里达大学马丁集团(UF)研究小组的技术专长。马丁集团将以分包商的角色负责纳米管的合成。催化纳米管是一项由两个小组共同完成的任务；每个小组都为这个项目带来了独特的专业知识。然后，催化膜将通过PSI集成到膜电极组件(MEA)中，并测试单个电池的性能。这些支撑结构的开发还将为新的单组分MEA系统铺平道路，消除目前使用的昂贵的固体聚合物电解质。该技术的成功开发将大幅提高车用PEM燃料电池的性能和成本效益。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will utilize a novel carbon nanotube material to develop an innovative electrode structure for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The innovation in this work targets both performance and cost issues of PEM fuel cells by investigating novel catalyst support structures. This effort capitalizes on the technical expertise of research groups at Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and the Martin Group at University of Florida (UF). The Martin Group, in the role of a subcontractor, will be responsible for nanotube synthesis. Catalyzing the nanotubes is a task that will be shared by both groups; each bringing unique expertise to this project. The catalyzed membranes will then be integrated into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) by PSI and tested for single cell performance. The development of these support structures will also pave the way to a new single component MEA system, eliminating the expensive solid polymer electrolyte currently employed.Successful development of the technology will substantially improve the performance and cost effectiveness of PEM fuel cells for vehicular applications.