SusChem: IUPAC: The development of multi-functional catalysts to replace Pt for fuel oxidation reactions in low temperature fuel cells

在这个由化学系化学催化项目资助的项目中，印第安纳波利斯大学的Rongrong Chen教授研究了在低温燃料氧化反应中替代铂（Pt）的多功能催化剂的开发。 在用于能源生产的各种替代系统中，燃料电池特别有吸引力，因为它们允许将化学能清洁有效地转化为电能。 目前，用于燃料电池中的燃料如氢气、甲醇和乙醇的氧化的最活性催化剂是Pt和Pt基材料，其对于负担得起的清洁能源生产来说太昂贵。该研究项目的重点是基于燃料电池中燃料氧化反应的廉价材料的催化剂。 通过结合电化学测量，原位光谱表征，密度泛函理论模拟和燃料电池测试，合作团队研究了氢，甲醇和乙醇氧化反应（分别为HORs，MORs和EOR）在酸性和碱性介质中的各种催化剂上的反应机理。本项目是与巴西的Hebe de las Mercedes教授和中国的孙世刚教授合作进行的，旨在设计和表征基于低成本材料（如钯、镍和其他地球丰度更高的元素）的新型多功能催化剂，其反应活性与铂基催化剂相当。总之，这些团体联合收割机结合他们各自的专业领域，研究更便宜和更可持续的燃料电池催化剂。这项工作的其他更广泛的影响包括博士后研究员和研究生的培训以及思想和专门知识的国际交流。

In this project funded by the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Rongrong Chen of Indianapolis University examines the development of multi-functional catalysts to replace platinum (Pt) in low temperature fuel oxidation reactions. Among the various alternative systems for energy production, fuel cells are particularly attractive because they allow clean and efficient conversion of chemical energy into electricity. Currently, the most active catalysts for the oxidation of fuels such as hydrogen, methanol and ethanol in fuel cells are Pt and Pt-based materials, which are too expensive for affordable clean energy production. This research project focuses on catalysts based on cheaper materials for fuel oxidation reactions in fuel cells. By combining electrochemical measurements, in-situ spectroscopic characterization, density functional theory simulations and fuel cell testing, the collaborative team studies reaction mechanisms of hydrogen, methanol and ethanol oxidation reactions (HORs, MORs and EORs, respectively) on various catalysts in both acid and alkaline media. New multi-functional catalysts based on low cost materials (such as palladium, nickel and other more earth abundant elements) with comparable reactivities to platinum-based catalysts are designed and characterized.This project is performed in collaboration with Professor Hebe de las Mercedes in Brazil and Professor Shi-Gang Sun in China. Together, these groups combine their separate areas of expertise to examine less expensive and more sustainable fuel cell catalysts. Other broader impacts of this work include the training of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and an international exchange of ideas and expertise.