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

STTR 第一阶段：用于提高 PEM 燃料电池催化剂利用率的创新激光烧蚀技术

• 批准号: 0740569
• 负责人: Ronald Jacobsen
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Mound Laser & Photonics Center, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0740569&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; PHASE; Innovatve; Laser; Ablation

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.

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目将大大提高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。使用当前技术，大规模生产的PEM燃料电池的成本由铂催化剂的成本驱动，然而绝大多数铂未被利用;大部分分散在多孔电极的不可接近的区域上。使用一种新的薄膜激光烧蚀技术，该项目旨在实现适当大小的催化剂纳米颗粒直接沉积到聚合物电解质上，精确地在需要的地方。结合更耐用的电极材料，这种方法有可能将催化剂需求降低到电流水平的一小部分。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膜上产生和存款致密分布的非团聚催化剂纳米颗粒。然后，这些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、卷到卷的工艺，以生产更便宜、更有效的组件，这将使燃料电池适用于运输应用，最初在踏板车和低速邻里电动车中，最终在汽车中。该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，导致可负担得起的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范围和实用性增加。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，减少污染和绿色家庭气体排放。应用也可能扩展到非运输部门，如远程、建筑物现场发电机（将负担得起的能源带到离网位置）和微型燃料电池为消费电子产品供电。