SBIR Phase II: C0-Tolerant Electrocatalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目为使用重整氢操作的PEM燃料电池开发阳极催化剂。贵金属团簇将被精细地分散在T/J科技公司开发的新型高表面积导电陶瓷支撑件上。在第一阶段制备的催化剂表现出对氢阳极操作的高一氧化碳(CO)耐受性，燃料流中CO含量高达200ppm，优于商业上可获得的碳载体催化剂。优化这些催化剂的第二阶段技术途径包括：(1)利用铂与陶瓷载体之间的强相互作用来控制铂的粒度；(2)陶瓷载体的表面改性；(3)简化催化剂的制备过程。这种方法将减少贵金属的总含量，并提高耐用性和简化分散过程。同时，将构建膜电极组件的原型。完整的燃料电池将与集成燃料电池的商业开发商合作组装和测试。通过降低贵金属含量和提高耐用性，这项研究将提高使用重整碳氢燃料的燃料电池的商业可行性。主要的商业市场是车辆推进和千瓦级离网或便携式电源。到2000年，全球燃料电池市场预计将超过30亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops anode catalysts for PEM fuel cells operating with reformed hydrogen. Noble metal clusters will be finely dispersed onto new, high surface area conductive ceramic supports developed at T/J Technologies. Catalysts prepared during phase I showed high carbon monoxide (CO)-tolerance for a hydrogen anode operating with a fuel stream containing up to 200 ppm CO, superior to commercially available carbon-supported catalysts. The Phase II technical approach for optimizing these catalysts includes: (1) platinum particle size control by exploiting the strong interaction between platinum and the ceramic support; (2) surface modification of the ceramic support; and (3) simplification of the catalyst preparation procedure. This approach will reduce total precious metal content, as well as improve durability and simplify the dispersion process. In parallel, prototype membrane electrode assemblies will be constructed. Complete fuel cells will be assembled and tested in collaboration with commercial developers of integrated fuel cells. By reducing noble metal content and improving durability, this research will improve the commercial viability of fuel cells operating on reformed hydrocarbon fuels. Primary commercial markets are vehicle propulsion and kW-scale off grid or portable power supplies. Global fuel cell markets are projected to exceed $3 billion by 2000.