CAREER: A Novel Approach to Catalysis for Next Generation Direct-Hydrocarbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

建议数量。作者：McIntosh， StevenINSTITUTION: University of virginia研究领域：下一代直接碳氢化合物固体氧化物燃料电池催化的新方法知识产权：许多技术正在开发中，以提高发电系统的效率。固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）是大规模和分布式系统中最有前途的一种。sofc利用氧阴离子导电电解质，理论上可以在任何供给燃料电极（阳极）的可燃燃料上工作。由于阳极材料的限制，目前的SOFC不必要地局限于氢燃料。SOFC能够有效地将传统的和生物衍生的碳氢化合物燃料转化为电能，其发展将对社会产生巨大的效益。在开发新型氧化基阳极方面取得了进展；然而，这些新材料的催化性能还没有得到很好的理解。高性能的负极材料必须同时具有高氧离子和电子导电性和催化氧化活性。总体研究目标是了解复合氧化物中发生的耦合离子传输和催化过程，并将其与材料结构和组成联系起来。将采取三种不同的方法。首先，利用脉冲反应器技术研究新型SOFC负极材料上烃类氧化活性位点的性质和反应机理。其次，具有明确结构、成分和几何形状的薄膜电极将被制造并作为sofc模型运行。对这些模型体系进行电化学和催化相结合的测量，将研究外加电位、膜微观结构和离子通量对表面反应速率和机理的影响。最后，实验室规模的sofc将被制造出来，以展示该技术的应用，并将燃料电池性能与基本阳极材料特性联系起来。这项工作将辅以材料表面和体积的微观结构和组成的详细表征。更广泛的影响拟议的研究与教育组成部分相结合，将能源技术教育纳入弗吉尼亚大学的课程。将开设一门高级本科课程，探讨围绕能源使用的技术和社会问题。这将辅以一个新的本科实验室燃料电池实验。大一的工程课程将允许学生设计和制造新的能源相关设备。学生们将在大学开放日展示他们的作品，与公众分享他们的想法和设计。此外，研究生化学反应工程课程将被修订，以包括新兴能源技术背后的基本概念。高效直接碳氢化合物燃料电池的开发将对美国的能源生产产生重大影响。最终的研究目标是生产一种实验室规模的燃料电池，使用现成的燃料，这将通过切实的科学发现向公众提供直接的宣传。了解氧化物中的耦合传输和催化在化学传感器、致密氧化膜和纳米离子等新兴领域有着广泛的应用。

PROPOSAL NUMBER.: CBET-0643931PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: McIntosh, StevenINSTITUTION: University of VirginiaCAREER: A Novel Approach to Catalysis for Next Generation Direct-Hydrocarbon SolidOxide Fuel Cells Intellectual MeritA number of technologies are under development to increase the efficiency of power generation systems. One of the most promising for large scale and distributed systems is the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). SOFCs utilize an oxygen anion conducting electrolyte and may theoretically operate on any combustible fuel supplied to the fuel electrode, the anode. Current SOFC are unnecessarily restricted to hydrogen fuel due to anode materials limitations. The development of SOFC that efficiently convert both traditional and bio-derived hydrocarbon fuels to electrical power would be of great benefit to society. Progress has been made in developing new oxide-based anodes; however, the catalytic properties of these novel materials are note well understood. A high performance anode material must posses both high oxygen ion and electron conductivity and catalytic activity towards fuel oxidation. The overall research goal is to understand the coupled ion transport and catalytic processes occurring in complex oxides and relate these to the material structure and composition.Three distinct approaches will be taken. First, a pulse reactor technique will be utilized to investigate the nature of the active site and reaction mechanism for hydrocarbon oxidation on novel SOFC anode materials. Second, thin film electrodes with well defined structure, composition and geometry will be fabricated and operated as model SOFCs. Combined electrochemical and catalytic measurements on these model systems will investigate the influence of applied potential, film microstructure and ionic flux on the surface reaction rate and mechanism. Finally, lab-scale SOFCs will be fabricated to demonstrate the application of this technology and relate fuel cell performance to the fundamental anode material properties. The work will be supplemented by detailed characterization of the microstructure and composition of the material surface and bulk.Broader ImpactThe proposed research is integrated with an educational component that incorporates energy technology education into the University of Virginia curriculum. A senior level undergraduate course will be developed that explores both technological and societal issues surrounding energy use. This will be supplemented by a new undergraduate laboratory fuel cell experiment. A freshman engineering course will allow students to design and build novel energy-related devices. The students will present their work at university open days to share their ideas and designs with the public. In addition, the graduate chemical reaction engineering class will be revised to include the fundamental concepts behind emerging energy technologies.The development of an efficient direct-hydrocarbon fuel cell will have a significant impact upon energy production in the US. The final research goal of producing a lab-scale fuel cell operating on readily available fuels will provide immediate outreach to the public through a tangible scientific discovery. Understanding coupled transport and catalysis in oxides has broader application in the fields of chemical sensors, dense oxide membranes and the emerging field of nano-ionics.