Low Cost High Performance Novel Catalysts for Direct Alcohol Alkaline Fuel Cells using anion exchange membrane and bio-fuels

这个英国-中国联合项目的目标是提供低成本、高性能的便携式动力燃料电池技术，能够使用含酒精的燃料，重点是从生物原料中使用生物燃料，如生物乙醇和甘油。这项合作研究旨在利用中国和英国团队在直接醇碱阴离子交换膜燃料电池(DA-AAEM-FC)开发方面非常有希望的成果，以及在酒精燃料碱性燃料电池阳极和阴极催化剂方面的令人兴奋的文献数据，在低温燃料电池研发方面掌握主动权。在碱性条件下醇电催化氧化的研究相对较少，但在低成本、高活性和高选择性的非铂催化剂方面有一些非常有希望的报道。我们的主要战略是扩大潜在燃料的范围，最终扩大到副产品、废物和可持续生物精炼的(廉价)产品。燃料电池燃料的范围从氢和甲醇(通常由化石燃料生产的燃料)到生物原料，如生物乙醇，将极大地减少对化石燃料用于便携式发电的依赖。此外，与锂离子充电相比，使用直接生物原料燃料电池作为便携式设备的电源，将减少化石燃料对发电的依赖。此外，原料的多样化将允许使用更高能量密度的燃料，例如乙醇提供24MJ L-1，而甲醇提供16MJ L-1。此外，安全方面可以为应用量身定做，例如甲醇有毒，这阻止了便携式燃料电池系统在需要考虑的区域和环境中的更广泛部署，例如在飞机机舱中。受益的时间范围将取决于基于燃料电池的便携式电力设备的持续推出。燃料使用形式及其纯度的灵活性，而不会对燃料电池的寿命产生不利影响，这将在未来几年提供重要的机会和影响。开发高效、耐用的碱性燃料电池、使用更便宜的催化剂和获得更广泛的燃料将对电力/能源技术的许多方面产生重大影响。英国队和中国团队拥有与拟议工作相关的强大和互补的技能。双方团队都展示了各自的成就，并试图通过这一新颖且具有挑战性的联合项目，在电催化和燃料电池研发方面发展实力加实力的合作，并在整个项目中持续进行双向知识转移。该联合项目将适时为英国和中国团队在清洁可持续能源技术领域建立长期合作共赢伙伴关系提供一个极好的平台，这将为两国带来巨大利益。

This UK-China (QUB-DICP) joint project will aim to provide low cost high performance Portable Power Fuel Cell technology capable of operating on alcohol containing fuels with an emphasis on use of biofuels such as bio-ethanol and glycerol, from bio-feedstocks. The collaborative research seeks to seize the initiative in low temperature fuel cell research and development by capitalising upon extremely promising results on Direct Alcohol Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (DA-AAEM-FC) development by both China and UK teams, and exciting data in the literature on anode and cathode catalysts for alcohol-fuelled alkaline fuel cells. The electro-catalytic oxidation of alcohols under alkaline conditions is relatively unexplored, but with some extremely promising reports in the literature on low cost but highly active and selective non-Pt catalysts. Our main strategy is to extend the range of potential fuels, ultimately to side products, waste and (cheap) products from sustainable bio-refining. The broadening of fuel cell fuels from hydrogen and methanol, fuels generally produced from fossil fuels, to bio-feedstocks, e.g. bioethanol, will greatly decrease reliance on fossil fuels for portable power generation. In addition, the use of direct biofeedstock fuel cells as power sources for portable devices as compared to Li-ion rechargeable, will reduced reliance of fossil fuels on electricity generation. In addition, the diversification of feedstock will allow higher energy density fuels to be employed, for example ethanol provides 24 MJ l-1 compared with methanol at 16 MJ l-1. In addition, the safety aspects can be tailored for the application, for example methanol is toxic and this prevents wider deployment of portable fuel cell systems into areas and environments where this is a concern, e.g. in aircraft cabins. The time scale of benefit will be dependent on the continuing introduction of portable power devices based on fuel cells. Flexibility in the form of the fuel used and its purity without having a detrimental effect on the fuel cell lifetime will provide a significant opportunity and impact in future years. The development of an efficient, durable alkaline fuel cell, utilising cheaper catalysts and accessing a wider range of fuels will have a major impact on a number of aspects of power/energy technology. The UK and China teams have strong and complementary skills relevant to the proposed work. Both teams have demonstrated individual achievements and are trying to develop the strength-plus-strength cooperation on electro-catalysis and fuel cell R&D, through this novel and challenging joint project, with a continue two-way transfer of knowledge throughout the project. The joint project will timely provide an excellent platform for the UK and China teams to establish a long-term win-win partnership for working together on the clean sustainable energy technology which will bring great benefits to both countries.