The optimisation of alkaline membrane fuel cell electrodes containing anion-exchange powder ionomers

Varcoe教授的小组（萨里大学化学系）率先在碱性膜燃料电池中使用阴离子交换聚合物电解质（旨在最大限度地减少燃料电池电极中贵金属催化剂的使用）。这些燃料电池在固定备用电源和离网发电部门有潜在的应用。在过去的两年中，阴离子交换膜的优化有了很大的突破[DOI 10.1039/C8 TA 04783 A]。然而，迄今为止，用于将催化剂结合到电极的阴离子交换粉末离聚物的优化工作较少。萨拉姆博士项目的目的是研究不同的电极配置，以最大限度地提高碱性膜燃料电池的性能。目的：1.使用当前最先进的材料和电极配置来建立基准燃料电池性能;2.研究不同类型的碳纸电极在不同防潮程度（聚四氟乙烯含量）下制备的燃料电池电极性能的差异。研究含有不同粒径和形状的阴离子交换离聚物粉末（使用不同方法研磨/碾磨）的燃料电池电极的性能差异;4.研究不同前驱体制备的阴离子交换离聚物粉末在燃料电池电极性能上的差异。研究含有向下选择的功率/研磨组合和不同电催化剂的燃料电池电极的性能差异（上述目的使用商业基准铂基燃料电池电催化剂）。方法：1.制备标准阴离子交换膜和不同的阴离子交换粉末离聚物; 2.使用标准公布的技术表征上述材料（离子交换能力、光谱特性、电导率、吸水率）; 3.制备含有阴离子交换粉末离聚物的电极，用于单电池碱性膜燃料电池中的测试（与标准膜一起）。4.如果时间允许，对优化的膜电极组件进行一些原位耐久性研究（这可能与其他美国或欧盟团体合作）。

Prof Varcoe's group (Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey) has pioneered the use of anion-exchange polymer electrolytes in alkaline membrane fuel cells (targeted to minimise the use of precious metal catalysts in fuel cell electrodes). These fuel cells have potential application in the stationary back-up power and off-grid electricity generation sectors. In the last two years, there have been large breakthroughs in the optimisation of anion-exchange membranes [DOI 10.1039/C8TA04783A]. However, to date, there has been less work on the optimisation of the anion-exchange powder ionomers that are used to bind the catalysts to the electrodes. The aim of Mr Salam's PhD project is to investigate different electrode configurations to maximise alkaline membrane fuel cell performances. Objectives:1. To establish benchmark fuel cell performances with the use of the current state-of-the-art materials and electrode configurations;2. To investigate the differences in the performances of fuel cell electrodes fabricated using different types of carbon paper electrodes with different levels of wetproofing (Teflon contents);3. To investigate the differences in the performances of fuel cell electrodes containing anion-exchange ionomer powders of differing particle sizes and shapes (ground/milled using different methods);4. To investigate the differences in the performances of fuel cell electrodes containing anion-exchange ionomer powders made from different precursors;5. To investigate the differences in the performances of fuel cell electrodes containing the down-selected power/milling combination and different electrocatalysts (the above objectives used commercial benchmark platinum-based fuel cell electrocatalysts). Methodology:1.Fabricate standard anion-exchange membranes and different anion-exchange powder ionomers;2.Characterise the above materials using standard published techniques (ion-exchange capacity, spectroscopic characterisation, conductivity, water uptakes);3.Fabricate electrodes containing the anion-exchange powder ionomers for testing in single-cell alkaline membrane fuel cells (alongside the standard membranes).4.If time permits, conduct some in situ durability studies of an optimised membrane-electrode assembly (this may be in collaboration with other US or EU groups).