SBIR Phase II: CO-Tolerant Pt-Mo Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

这个小企业创新研究二期项目致力于开发高度分散的Pt-Mo电催化剂，用于质子交换膜（PEM）燃料电池的阳极。替代阳极电催化剂仍然是重整氢燃料PEM燃料电池降低成本和提高性能的关键发展领域。具体来说，需要能够耐受重整副产物（如CO）的催化剂。负载Pt-Mo是下一代催化剂的主要候选者。第一阶段的研究成功地用两种不同的方法在Vulcan XC-72上制备了高度分散的Pt-Mo催化剂。两种方法制备的催化剂在0.5 M H2SO4中均表现出良好的氢氧化性能。在100ppm CO/H2条件下，这些材料的性能显示出高活性，但没有显示出基于大块Pt-Mo合金的结果所期望的CO耐受程度。这些发现是令人惊讶的，因为伏安证据显示Mo和pt之间的电化学相互作用。这项工作的第二阶段将对Pt-Mo相互作用的本质有更全面的了解。T/J的第一阶段研究结果表明，CO/H2燃料流在较低电位下促进H2氧化的增强主要取决于Pt-Mo相互作用的性质。我们打算使用旋转圆盘电极（RDE）系统研究在CO/H2燃料流存在的情况下，Mo的表面组成/覆盖范围对固体Pt电极表面的影响。这些固体电极表面的基础研究将确定co耐受性的基础。在此基础上，我们将采用三种新的分散方法，合理开发具有合适表面化学和结构的负载型Pt-Mo催化剂。作为这项工作的一部分，我们将对催化剂进行深入的物理化学表征以及更全面的电化学分析。我们打算生产原型膜电极组件（MEAs）用于燃料电池的测试。此外，我们将提供催化剂材料，由领先的催化剂制造商进行外部评估。这些公司已承诺为该SBIR项目提供超过84万美元的后续资金。在SBIR项目下开发的低成本耐co催化剂将使使用重整氢的高性能PEM燃料电池商业化。降低催化剂成本解决了pemfc用于车辆推进和离网发电商业化的一个关键障碍。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project addresses the development of highly dispersed Pt-Mo electrocatalysts for application as anodes in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Alternative anode electrocatalysts remain a critical development area for the cost reduction and performance enhancement of PEM fuel cells operating on reformate hydrogen fuel. Specifically, there is a need for catalysts that are tolerant to reformate by-products such as CO. Supported Pt-Mo is a leading candidate for the next generation of these catalysts. The Phase I research successfully produced highly dispersed Pt-Mo catalysts supported on Vulcan XC-72 using two distinct methods. The catalysts produced by both methods show excellent hydrogen oxidation characteristics in 0.5 M H2SO4. The performance of these materials in 100 ppm CO/H2 indicated high activity but did not, however, show the degree of CO-tolerance expected on the basis of results from bulk Pt-Mo alloys. These findings were surprising in light of voltammetric evidence that showed electrochemical interaction between Mo and Pt.Phase II of this effort will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of Pt-Mo interactions. The results from the Phase I research at T/J suggest that the promotion of enhanced H2 oxidation at lower potentials in CO/H2 fuel streams is critically dependent upon the nature of the Pt-Mo interaction. We intend to examine the influence of surface composition/coverage of Mo on solid Pt electrode surfaces in the presence of CO/H2 fuel streams as a function of potential using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) system. These fundamental studies of solid electrode surfaces will identify the basis of CO-tolerance. Based on these results, we will pursue rational development of supported Pt-Mo catalysts with the appropriate surface chemistry and structure using three novel dispersion methods. As a part of this work, we will conduct in-depth physicochemical characterization of the catalysts as well as more comprehensive electrochemical analysis. We intend to produce prototype membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for testing in fuel cells. In addition, we will supply catalyst materials for external evaluation by leading catalyst manufacturers. These companies have committed over $840,000 in follow-on funding for this SBIR project.Low cost CO-tolerant catalysts developed under this SBIR project will enable the commercialization of high performance PEM fuel cells operating on reformed hydrogen. Reducing catalyst costs addresses a key obstacle hindering the commercialization of PEMFCs for vehicle propulsion and off-grid electric power generation.