Nanoparticles to superparticles: new materials for clean energy

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New methods to manipulate and structure advanced functional materials at the nanoscale are required to exploit the third dimension opening up the possibility for revolutionary new applications in many fields of science and industry whilst preventing environmental contamination, safety and handling. One such application is in improving efficiency of fuel cells which run on hydrogen to produce water. Everyone has heard of fuel cells but they have yet to enter our daily lives because as yet they are not cost-competitive with petrol engines. One of the problems lies in the use of platinum catalysts. Platinum although mined in Canada is rare and expensive. Surprisingly most of the platinum in fuel cells is not used efficiently because it is extremely difficult to position the nanoparticles and the conductors that make up the catalyst layer in the correct place so that gasses are converted to water and electricity efficiently. One of the components is simply evaporated into place just as paint is applied to a wall. The McGill team has a new method to entrap conducting polymer in solution within the catalyst during assembly that they hope will prevent uneven coatings. Also current catalysts use carbon to conduct electricity in the catalyst layer but this breaks down over time and the valuable catalyst is lost. Again this method can help substitute for more durable materials. By using computational modelling experiments can be directed by theory more than by trial and error. Together with Ballard, one of the top fuel cell manufacturers in the world, based in Burnaby BC, this team will endeavour to improve processing to help reduce costs of fuel cells so one day in the not too distant future we will be filling up with hydrogen.