SBIR Phase II: Novel Catalysts for Air Cathodes

该小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目的重点是开发一种可扩展的经济工艺，用于生产非贵金属电催化剂和基于这些材料的电极。 目前，对贵重电极催化剂的依赖阻碍了许多有前途的技术的更广泛商业化。 与目前可用的电极材料相比，该项目正在开发的材料具有独特的性能，可用于许多重要的应用，包括电池，燃料电池和工业电解。 在该项目中，pH Matter，LLC将开发一种可扩展的工艺，使用低成本的起始材料生产非贵金属电催化剂，并开发基于这些材料的电极，以供早期采用。 该项目将产生pH Matter的商业产品，为客户提供更高性能的电化学电池。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力与许多电化学应用有关，包括电池，燃料电池和下一代电解工艺。 pH Matter的最大价值主张是什么？该材料用于替代目前在许多这些应用中所需的贵金属电极。 开发贵金属电极的替代品将能够引入高性能和低成本的一次和二次金属电池。 这些电池的应用范围可以从便携式电子产品到电网负载均衡。通过更换贵金属阴极来降低燃料电池的成本将使其能够更广泛地用于车队车辆和可能的汽车应用。 此外，下一代电解工艺，如采用氧气去极化阴极的氯合成，可以将工业用电量最大的来源的效率提高30%。 因此，该项目正在开发的材料具有广泛的适用性，将促进能源效率和替代能源的使用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is focused on development of a scalable and economical process for production of non-precious metal electro-catalysts, and electrodes based on these materials. The reliance on precious electrode catalysts currently hinders broader commercialization of a number of promising technologies. The materials being developed in this project have unique properties compared to currently available electrode materials, and can be used for a number of important applications, including batteries, fuel cells, and industrial electrolysis. In this project, pH Matter, LLC will develop a scalable process using low cost starting materials for the production of the non-precious metal electro-catalysts, and develop electrodes based on these materials for early adopter applications. The project will result in commercial product offerings from pH Matter that will enable higher-performing electrochemical cells for customers.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is related to a number of electrochemical applications, including batteries, fuel cells, and next-generation electrolysis processes. The strongest value proposition of pH Matter?s material is for replacement of precious metal electrodes currently required in many of these applications. Developing an alternative to precious metal electrodes will enable introduction of high performance and low-cost primary and secondary metal batteries. Applications for these batteries could range from portable electronics to grid load leveling. Reducing the cost of fuel cells by replacement of the precious metal cathode would enable wider adoption for fleet vehicles and possibly automotive applications. Further, next-generation electrolysis processes, such as chlorine synthesis with an oxygen depolarized cathode, could improve efficiency by 30% for the largest source of industrial electricity consumption. Consequently, the materials being developed on this project have broad applicability that will promote energy efficiency and alternative energy use.