Structure – properties relationship of anion conducting materials and electrocatalysts for energy applications

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The world energy demand grows rapidly, and the innovation and development of alternative energy sources are absolutely fundamental to meet this need, and to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gas. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy. Fuel cells have inherent superior conversion efficiency and fuel flexibility. Particularly promising are solid alkaline fuel cells (SAFCs) because of the faster catalysis at the electrodes thus avoiding the use of expensive Pt-based catalysts. Given this unquestionable interest, I have developed at the INRS-EMT a vigorous research program in materials for electrochemical systems, and in particular for fuel cells. In the present Discovery Grant, I intend to address major challenges related to two of the SAFCs components and thus contributing for the full implementation of this technology. Specifically, in the next five years, I will: