Advanced multi-functional free-standing graphene film based fuel cell catalysts

开发具有成本竞争力、高效和环境友好的能源转换技术是一项重大的全球挑战。燃料电池提供了将化学能直接转化为电能的潜力，运行过程中效率高，零排放。质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)因其在交通、住宅和便携式应用方面的巨大潜力而引起人们的极大关注。与燃料电池催化剂相关的一个主要技术障碍是目前商用的铂基催化层电极的铂利用率低和耐用性不足。我们解决这一问题的方法是设计一种单一且经济高效的多功能石墨烯纳米片(MF-G)薄膜催化剂，它同时具有催化、混合离子和电子导电性能，是克服目前PEMFC商业化所面临的挑战所必需的。这项工作在PEMFC催化剂电极的开发中引入了一种独特的方法，即创新地开发具有混合离子和电子传导以及电化学催化活性的新型还原氧化石墨烯(GO)膜。基于He MF-G的新型电极不仅可以通过消除传统电极中的粘结剂来简化电极的制造，而且可以提高PEMFC的催化活性和耐久性。预计本研究的结果将提供潜在的突破，通过提高性能，包括耐用性、能量转换效率和降低成本，使PEMFC成为商业上可行的技术。拟议的研究结果不仅将有效降低PEMFC的成本和提高其性能，还将扩大和提高加拿大相关石墨烯生产和能源行业的能力，从而为加拿大知识型经济的发展做出贡献。拟议的活动还旨在培训高素质人员(HQP)，他们将在加拿大和全球的下一代技术开发中发挥关键作用。

The development of cost-competitive, highly efficient, and environmentally benign energy conversion technologies is a major global challenge. Fuel cells offer the potential to convert chemical energy directly int electrical energy with high efficiencies and zero emissions during operation. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are attracting enormous attention due to their great potential in transportation, residential and portable applications. One major technical barriers specifically associated with the fuel cell catalysts are the low Pt utilization and insufficient durability of currently commercial Pt based catalyst layer electrodes. Our approach to solving the problem is to design a single and cost-effective multi-functional graphene nanosheets (MF-G) film catalyst, which concurrently possesses the triple-function with catalytic, mixed ion and electronic conductivity properties necessary to overcome current challenges facing PEMFC commercialization. This work entails a unique approach in the development of PEMFC catalyst electrodes, namely the innovative development of novel reduced graphene oxide (GO) films functionalized with components responsible for mixed ion and electron conduction as well as electrochemical catalytic activity. The novel electrode based on he MF-G will not only simplify the electrode fabrication by elimnating the binders in the coventional electrodes but also improve the catalytic activity and durability of the It is expected that the results of the proposed research will provide a potential breakthrough needed in the effort to make PEMFCs a commercially viable technology through performance improvement, including durability, energy conversion efficiency, and cost reduction. The results of the proposed research will not only effectively reduce the cost and enhance the performance of PEMFCs, it will expand and enhance the capability of relevant Canadian Graphene production and energy industries, thus contributing to the development of a knowledge-based Canadian economy. The proposed activity also aims to train highly qualified personnel (HQP) who will be critical in the development of next generation technologies in Canada and globally.