聚苯胺具有优异的导电性及良好的环境稳定性，并且结构可控，将其作为前驱体制备燃料电池碳基非贵金属阴极催化剂，在降低成本、改善催化性能、延长使用寿命等方面具有良好前景，然而其相关研究尚处于初级阶段。本项目拟通过酸掺杂和金属离子配位等手段来调控聚苯胺的化学组成和结构，经热处理使其合金化，从而调变碳基催化剂的化学组成和结构，分析碳基催化剂结构对催化性能的影响，深入研究碳基催化剂表面微观结构与反应性能的内在联系。通过对杂原子与碳原子间电子转移促进催化活性提高的关系、杂原子掺杂使碳晶体产生晶格畸变对催化性能的影响、过渡金属元素(如：Fe、Co或W)在碳基催化剂中的作用、催化活性位的表征与计算以及碳基催化剂的氧还原作用机理等关键问题进行研究，获得调控碳基催化剂结构促进催化活性提高的方法，阐明碳基催化剂的催化机理，制备活性高、稳定性好及成本低的燃料电池催化剂，为碳基非贵金属催化剂应用于燃料电池提供科学依据

Due to its high conductivity, environmental stability and controllable structure, polyaniline is attractive for use as precursors to prepare carbon based non-noble-metal cathode catalysts for fuel cells. This novel catalysts also offers a large set of desirable properties which promise low cost, performance and long life during its utilization in fuel cells. However, the research is still at a preliminary stage. In our proposed work, the research aims at tuning chemical composition and structure of polyaniline by acid-doping and metal coordination. The modified polyaniline is alloyed during the heat treatment process in order to obtain structure modulation of the carbon based catalysts. The study will include: influence of structure of carbon based catalysts on catalytic activity; intrinsic relationship between microstructure and catalytic activity. The research covers the following: The factors that improve catalytic activity by the electron transfer in both impurity atoms and carbon atoms; the influence of lattice distortion on catalytic activity with the inclusion of impurity atoms into the carbon crystal; the role of transition metal (like Fe or Co) in carbon based catalysts; characterization and theoretical calculation of catalytic active sites; the catalytic mechanism of carbon based catalysts. We will develop a method for enhancement of catalytic activity by modulating the structure of carbon based catalysts. We will discover catalytic mechanism of carbon based catalysts and prepare high-efficiency, durable and low-cost non-precious-metal catalysts. The work will provide scientific basis to the development of carbon based catalysts catalysts for application in fuel cells.