SAD-GLAD Nanorod Array Catalyst Electrodes for Next Generation Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

用于下一代聚合物电解质膜燃料电池的SAD-GLAD纳米棒阵列催化剂电极

• 批准号: 1159830
• 负责人: Tansel Karabacak
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: University of Arkansas Little Rock
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2017-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1159830&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SAD; GLAD; Nanorod; Array; Catalyst

CBET-1159830Karabacak, TanselIntellectual merit: Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology stands unprecedented as one of the most promising alternative energy systems for an environmentally friendly, sustainable energy economy. PEM fuel cells can operate with various types of energy carriers including hydrogen, ethanol, and methanol. However, conventional PEM fuel cell electrodes, which are comprised of carbon supported platinum catalyst nanoparticles, suffer from several key limitations that include sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and high Pt loadings at the cathode, agglomeration of Pt nanoparticles, oxidation of carbon support, separation of carbon over time from the membrane, and poor catalyst-carbon support stability. To overcome these limitations of the traditional cathode catalyst, Prof. Tansel Karabacak of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock proposes to employ a new nanostructured PEM fuel cell electrode design comprised of single layer carbon-free catalyst nanorod arrays with extremely low Pt loadings, controlled porosity, ideal alloy compositions, and with preferred crystal orientations for enhanced ORR electrochemical activity. Karabacak will use a combination of recently developed small angle deposition (SAD) and glancing angle deposition (GLAD) techniques for the fabrication of the nanorod PEM fuel cell electrodes.The proposal offers a method of material production that is based on very specific catalyst preparation methodology. It combines synthesis and fuel cell performance measurements in a useful manner.The electro-catalysis experimentation will be done in conjunction with an expert at Argonne National Labs. Broader impacts: The area of fuel cell electro-catalysis is one of considerable importance in the overall national energy endeavor. The proposed work can lead to the development of new nanoscale electrode catalyst structures which enhance ORR activity, have improved durability, can be utilized with ultra-low platinum loadings, and can maximize the power/effective surface area of the catalyst, thus reducing PEM fuel cell cost. This approach can avoid the issues associated with conventional carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles, unsupported Pt-black, and polycrystalline continuous Pt thin film approaches. Therefore, this work has the potential to result in a significant advance in fuel cell catalysis and electrode development. The proposal also incorporates the plans for a mentoring and outreach infrastructure for energy related research through UALR. This plan includes an educational collaboration and interaction among the students, faculty, teachers, and parents at UALR and the LISA Academy Charter School. It outlines an organized system of student education and mentoring, equipment and knowledge share, preparation towards science competitions, dissemination of research activities, and channels of increasing the awareness of public in energy research in the area of central Arkansas. In addition, UALR educates more minority students than any other institution in Arkansas. Hence, the proposed effort has a strong potential of benefiting the students coming from underrepresented groups, where the project will employ minority and female undergraduate students.

CBET-1159830 Karabacak，Tansel知识价值：聚合物电解质膜（PEM）燃料电池技术是前所未有的，是最有前途的替代能源系统之一，可实现环保、可持续的能源经济。PEM燃料电池可以使用各种类型的能量载体，包括氢、乙醇和甲醇。然而，由碳负载的铂催化剂纳米颗粒组成的常规PEM燃料电池电极受到几个关键限制，包括缓慢的氧还原反应（ORR）和阴极处的高Pt负载、Pt纳米颗粒的团聚、碳载体的氧化、碳随时间从膜分离以及差的催化剂-碳载体稳定性。为了克服传统阴极催化剂的这些局限性，位于小石城的阿肯色州大学的Tansel Karabacak教授提出采用一种新的纳米结构PEM燃料电池电极设计，该电极设计由单层无碳催化剂纳米棒阵列组成，具有极低的Pt负载量、受控的孔隙率、理想的合金组成，并且具有用于增强ORR电化学活性的优选晶体取向。Karabacak将使用最近开发的小角度沉积（SAD）和掠射角沉积（GLAD）技术的组合来制造纳米棒PEM燃料电池电极。该提案提供了一种基于非常特定的催化剂制备方法的材料生产方法。它以一种有用的方式结合了合成和燃料电池性能测量。电催化实验将与阿贡国家实验室的一位专家一起完成。更广泛的影响：燃料电池电催化领域在整个国家的能源奋进中是相当重要的领域之一。所提出的工作可以导致开发新的纳米级电极催化剂结构，其增强ORR活性，具有改进的耐久性，可以与超低铂负载一起使用，并且可以最大化催化剂的功率/有效表面积，从而降低PEM燃料电池成本。这种方法可以避免与传统的碳支撑的Pt纳米颗粒、无支撑的Pt黑和多晶连续Pt薄膜方法相关的问题。因此，这项工作有可能导致燃料电池催化和电极开发的重大进展。该提案还纳入了通过UALR为能源相关研究建立指导和外联基础设施的计划。该计划包括UALR和丽莎学院特许学校的学生，教师，教师和家长之间的教育合作和互动。它概述了一个有组织的系统，学生教育和指导，设备和知识共享，科学竞赛的准备，研究活动的传播，以及提高公众对阿肯色州中部地区能源研究的认识的渠道。此外，UALR教育更多的少数民族学生比任何其他机构在阿肯色州。因此，拟议的努力有很大的潜力，使来自代表性不足群体的学生受益，该项目将雇用少数民族和女本科生。