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

世界能源需求迅速增长，替代能源的创新和开发对于满足这一需求，减少对化石燃料的依赖和温室气体的排放至关重要。燃料电池是将燃料的化学能直接转化为电能的电化学装置。燃料电池具有固有的上级转换效率和燃料灵活性。特别有前途的是固体碱性燃料电池（SAFC），因为在电极上的催化速度更快，从而避免了使用昂贵的铂基催化剂。鉴于这种毋庸置疑的兴趣，我在INRS-EMT开发了一个积极的电化学系统材料研究计划，特别是燃料电池。在目前的发现补助金中，我打算解决与SAFC的两个组件相关的主要挑战，从而为这项技术的全面实施做出贡献。在未来的五年里，我们将：**研究使用层状双氢氧化物（LDHs）及其复合膜的可能性，以解决目前缺乏高电导率和高pH值下优异的化学稳定性的电解质膜。我们的策略依赖于研究这些化合物的结构-性能关系，特别强调水的类型和各自的含量对离子电导率的影响。还将研究通过将LDH分散在聚合物或离聚物基质中制备的复合膜。2.研究了低成本Fe_3O_4和γ-Fe_2O_3氧化物上的氧还原反应（ORR），以及替代型固溶体与类似组成的核-多孔壳结构上的氧还原反应。这两种氧化物是同构的，并且Fe 3 O 4的表面容易被氧化成γ-Fe 2 O3，这对它们的电催化活性的研究提出了挑战。因此，将对纳米颗粒的结构、组成和活性进行系统的研究。固溶体（具有第二阳离子）和二元体系（具有第二氧化物）旨在探索电子和界面效应，以进一步提高铁氧化物对ORR的活性。与这种研究计划有关的好处是双重的：它们不仅将为新产品和知识的开发铺平道路，与加拿大燃料电池和电池行业的直接需求保持一致，而且还将促进高素质人才的培训，以应对我们现代社会的科学和技术挑战。

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:***1. Investigate the possibility of using layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their composite membranes to address the current lack of electrolyte membrane with high conductivity and excellent chemical stability at high pH. Our strategy relies on studying the structure - properties relationships of these compounds with a special emphasis on the influence of the type of water and respective content on the ion conductivity. Composite membranes prepared by dispersing the LDHs in polymers or ionomer matrices will be also investigated.***2. Study the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on low cost Fe3O4 and gamma - Fe2O3 oxides, and on substitutional solid solutions vs. core - porous shell like structures of similar composition. The two oxides are isostructural and the surface of Fe3O4 is easily oxidized to gamma-Fe2O3 which poses a challenge in the study of their electrocatalytic activity. Thus a systematic study of the nanoparticles structure, composition and activity will be carried out. Solid solutions (with a second cation) and binary systems (with a second oxide) aim at exploring electronic and interface effects to further boost the activity of the iron oxides towards ORR.***The benefits related to such research program are twofold: not only they will pave the way to the development of new products and knowledge, consistently with the immediate needs of Canadian fuel cells and batteries industry, but they will also promote the training of highly qualified personnel to respond to the scientific and technological challenges of our modern society.