Multifunctional Non-Precious Catalysts Derived from Biomass for Fuel Cells and Metal-Air Batteries

氢燃料电池(FCS)由于其零排放和高效率，在世界范围内引起了商业和政府的极大兴趣，作为一种非常有前途的可再生能源(能源转换)，用于便携式、汽车和固定应用。另一方面，可充电锌空气电池由于其高能量密度(是锂离子电池的5倍)、安全和低成本等优点，是最有前途的下一代储能技术之一。然而，它们的广泛商业化主要是因为它们的高成本，特别是使用昂贵的铂族金属催化剂。该发现计划的总体目标是利用纳米技术开发廉价和高效的生物质衍生催化剂，用于燃料电池和可充电锌空气电池应用。该项目的一个重要创新是利用可持续的自然生物质资源来制备多孔炭材料。生物质材料因其资源丰富、成本低、多功能、化学稳定性好、环境友好等优点而备受青睐。未来五年，我们将重点开展三个项目：1)开发燃料电池和电池用的各种生物质衍生无碳金属催化剂及其掺杂催化剂；2)开发燃料电池用生物质-碳基非贵金属催化剂；3)开发可充电锌空气电池用过渡金属/生物质-碳双功能催化剂。生物质碳材料在能源转化和储存中的应用(生物废弃物转化能源)是一个很有前途的新兴领域。我们的长期目标是利用这些基础发现，为交通运输和备用电源等各种应用开发下一代能源转换和存储设备的高效催化剂，表明我们的基础研究可以转化为与加拿大工业经济相关的商业产品。这种生产能源应用材料的可持续方式也确保了在国内和国际上向可持续社会的平稳过渡。该项目的预期结果将有助于使燃料电池和锌空气电池在经济上与当今的热电源竞争，并彻底改变运输和固定电源市场。燃料电池和锌空气电池在交通运输和其他电源应用中的广泛商业化将显著减少温室气体(GHG)排放。它将肯定加拿大在能源纳米技术领域的领先地位。它对我们的健康、经济、能源、环境和社会都具有重要意义。参与该计划的HQP在公平和包容的研究和工作环境中将获得宝贵和全面的培训，在加拿大的工业和学术部门都将受到很高的需求。

Hydrogen fuel cells (FCs), due to their zero-emission and high efficiency, have earned substantial commercial and government interest worldwide, as highly promising renewable energy power sources (energy conversion) for portable, automobile and stationary applications. On the other hand, rechargeable Zn-air batteries, due to their high energy density (5 times higher than Li-ion battery), safety and low cost, are one of the most promising next-generation energy storage technologies. Their widespread commercialization, however, is hindered mainly by their high cost, especially using expensive platinum group metal catalysts. The overall objective of this Discovery program is to employ nanotechnology to develop cheap and highly efficient biomass-derived catalysts, for fuel cell and rechargeable Zn-air battery applications. One important novelty in this program is to involve the sustainable natural biomass resources to fabricate the porous carbon materials. Biomass materials are favored for their abundance, low cost, multi-functional, chemical stable, and environmentally friendly. For the next five years, we will focus on three projects, aiming 1) to develop various biomass-derived carbon metal free catalysts as well as their doped ones for both fuel cell and battery applications; 2) to develop biomass-carbon-based non-precious metal catalysts for fuel cells, and 3) to develop transition-metal/biomass-carbon bifunctional catalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries. The application of the biomass-derived carbon materials for energy conversion and storage (bio-waste for energy) is a promising and emerging area. The long-term objectives are to exploit these fundamental discoveries to develop highly efficient catalysts towards next generation energy conversion and storage devices for various applications, such as transportation and backup power supplies, showing that our fundamental research can be translated into commercial products that are economically relevant to Canadian industry. This sustainable way of producing materials for energy application also ensures a smooth shift to a sustainable society nationally and internationally. The expected outcomes of the project will help to make fuel cells and Zn-air batteries economically competitive with today's thermal power sources, and revolutionize the transportation and stationary power source market. The wide-spread commercialization of fuel cells and Zn-air batteries in transportation and other power supply applications will significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It will affirm Canada's leadership at the forefront of nanotechnology for energy. It is also of great significance to our health, economy, energy, environment and society. The HQP involved in this program, in equitable and inclusive research and work environment, will gain valuable and comprehensive training, and will be in high demand both in the industrial and academic sectors in Canada.