Characterization and development of magnesium alloy for alkaline Zinc-Air regeneration systems

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Continuously deteriorating environmental and climatic conditions have been driving extensive international R&D efforts over the past decades in the field of sustainable energy sources. Much innovation has been accomplished with hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and bio-energy sources. Although these systems provide "clean" energy, their infrastructure requirements, power output, and initial cost remain a challenge for a wider adaptation. Consequently, other sustainable energy production systems must be examined. For example, fuel cells, which yield the desired power output with minimal environmental impact, have a capacity to minimize (or eliminate) many of the logistical and technological challenges of solar and wind systems. With this foundation, ZincNyx Energy Systems Inc. has pioneered the next generation of fuel cell modular systems. The technology developed at ZincNyx uses magnesium (Mg) alloy electrodes, which extract electricity from an energy-storage medium. These electrodes are exposed to a harsh environment, which ultimately causes their undesirable corrosion and premature degradation. Recognizing this challenge, Dr. Fan of ZincNyx has approached Dr. Bichler of the University of British Columbia, who has a track record of fabricating and designing Mg alloys for diverse industrial applications, to collaboratively work on identifying novel Mg alloys for electrodes for ZincNyx's regenerative fuel cell system. In this project, the corrosion behavior of currently used Mg-alloy electrodes will be examined using advanced characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, X-EDS and XRD). Subsequently, the alloy composition will be adjusted with a view to reducing the corrosion rate. Quantitative studies (e.g., via immersion and electrochemical approach) will enable identification of additives, which will reduce the corrosion rate to performance targets specified by ZincNyx. The results of this work will experimentally determine the possibility of manipulating the corrosion of the Mg-based electrodes. If successful, this project will create future opportunities for R&D into sustainable energy production.