STTR PHASE I: Innovatve Laser Ablation Techniques for Increasing Catalyst Utilization in PEM Fuel Cells

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目将极大地提高PEM燃料电池的电催化剂利用率，以降低其成本，并最终确保其在运输应用中的商业可行性。利用目前的技术，大规模生产的PEM燃料电池的成本是由铂催化剂的成本驱动的，但绝大多数铂没有得到利用；大部分分散在多孔电极上无法接触到的区域。使用一种新的薄膜激光烧蚀技术，该项目寻求实现在需要的地方直接将适当尺寸的催化剂纳米颗粒沉积到聚合物电解液上。与更耐用的电极材料相结合，这种方法有可能将催化剂需求减少到当前水平的一小部分。计划工作将首先优化激光烧蚀条件，以在固体聚合物电解质薄膜上创建和沉积致密分布的非团聚催化剂纳米颗粒。然后，这些材料将用于制造和测试膜电极组件(MEA)。预期的结果是一种更容易控制的、干化学的、大容量的卷筒到卷筒的工艺，以生产更便宜、更有效的部件，使燃料电池适用于交通应用，最初是在滑板车和低速社区电动汽车，最终在汽车中。这项技术的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是一种通过激光烧蚀沉积燃料电池催化剂颗粒的方法，从而产生负担得起的PEM燃料电池；这可能对社会和制造科学产生广泛的影响。燃料电池充电器的增加将使全电动汽车的续航里程和实用性增加。最终，用实用、经济的燃料电池取代内燃机，这将提供一种替代方案，可以减少美国对外国石油的依赖，减少污染和温室气体排放，应用也可能扩展到非交通行业，如用于建筑的远程现场发电机(将负担得起的能源带到离网位置)，以及为消费电子产品供电的微型燃料电池。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will dramatically improve electrocatalyst utilization in PEM fuel cells to reduce their cost and ultimately assure their commercial viability in transportation applications. Using current technology, the cost of mass- produced PEM fuel cells is driven by the cost of platinum catalyst, yet the vast majority of the platinum is unutilized; dispersed largely onto inaccessible areas of the porous electrode. Using a novel thin-film laser ablation technique, this project seeks to achieve deposition of appropriately sized catalyst nanoparticles directly onto a polymer electrolyte precisely where they are needed. In combination with more durable electrode materials, this approach has the potential to reduce catalyst requirements to a tiny fraction of current levels. Program efforts will first optimize the laser ablation conditions to create and deposit dense distributions of non-agglomerated catalyst nanoparticles on solid polymer electrolyte films. These will then be used to fabricate and test membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The anticipated result is a more easily controlled, dry chemistry, high volume, reel-to-reel process to produce cheaper, more effective components that will make fuel cells viable for transportation applications, initially in scooters and low velocity Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, and ultimately in automobiles.The broader impact/commercial potential from the technology will be a method for deposition of fuel cell catalyst particles by laser ablation, resulting in affordable PEM fuel cells; this could have wide ranging impact on society and manufacturing science. The addition of a fuel cell charger will give all-electric vehicles increased range and usefulness. Ultimately replacing the internal combustion engines with practical, economical fuel cells which will provide an alternative that can reduce American dependence on foreign oil, reducing pollution, and green house gas emissions Applications may also extend to non-transportation sectors, such as remote, on-site power generators for buildings (bringing affordable energy to off-grid locations), and miniature fuel cells to power consumer electronics.