1D and hybrid catalysts: from few particles to gas diffusion electrodes

世界能源需求迅速增长，而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绝对至关重要。众所周知，用于发电系统的电化学装置（例如燃料电池和金属-空气电池）和电解槽在可持续能源的竞技场中发挥重要作用。电解器允许将可从可再生源获得的电能转化为以化学键（燃料）形式存储的能量，转化为增值化学品（例如，H_2O_2），可应用于水中持久性污染物的去除。 贵金属（Pt和Pt基合金）和贵金属氧化物（RuO 2和IrO 2）仍然是最有效的催化剂的氧还原和析出反应，分别。这些是在这些装置中的氧电极处发生的反应，并且都以缓慢的动力学和高过电位为特征。本研究计划旨在开发新型低成本和活性氧电极催化剂，并研究其结构性能稳定性关系，对燃料电池，金属空气电池和电解槽具有重要意义。更具体地，将研究高纵横比钙钛矿和M /La 2 O3以及衍生自IV族和V族过渡金属氧化物的混合纳米颗粒催化剂。研究将在几个氧化物纳米粒子，在标准的纳米粒子薄膜沉积在盘电极的表面上，和气体扩散电极上进行。该方法将填补氧化物催化剂在筛选和应用水平上的结构活性稳定性之间的差距。 与此研究计划相关的好处包括培训HQP与加拿大工业和学术界相关的技能。每年共有3名博士生，1名硕士生和1名本科生将参与研究计划。此外，它将为与业界的长期研发合作提供新的机会。

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 gases. It is well recognized that electrochemical devices for power generation systems, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries, and electrolyzers play an important role in the arena of sustainable energy. Electrolyzers allow the conversion of electrical energy available from renewable sources into energy stored in the form of chemical bonds (fuels), into add-value chemicals (e.g., H2O2), and could be applied in the removal of persistent contaminants from water. Precious metals (Pt and Pt-based alloys) and precious metal oxides (RuO2 and IrO2) remain the most efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, respectively. These are the reactions occurring at the oxygen electrodes in these devices, and are both characterized by sluggish kinetics and high overpotentials. This research program aims to develop novel low cost and active catalysts for the oxygen electrode and to investigate their structural properties stability relationships, of great significance for fuel cells, metal air batteries and electrolyzers. More specifically, high aspect ratio perovskite and M / La2O3 and hybrid nanoparticle catalysts derived from transition metal oxides from groups IV and V will be investigated. Studies will be conducted on few oxide nanoparticles, on the standard nanoparticles thin film deposited on the surface of disk electrodes, and on gas diffusion electrodes. This approach will fill the gap between structure activity stability of oxide catalysts at the screening and applied levels. The benefits related to this research program include the training HQP with skills relevant to Canadian industry and to academia. A total of 3 PhD students, 1 MSc student and 1 undergraduate student per year will be involved in the research program. In addition, it will provide new opportunities for long term R&D collaborations with the industry.