Alternative Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Methanol Fuel Cells

摘要提案题目：氢和甲醇燃料电池的替代电催化剂提案号：CTS - 0518900首席研究员：Jingguang G. chen单位：特拉华大学分析（决策依据）：该项目将确定使用碳化钨以及碳化钨负载的铂作为氢和甲醇燃料电池的替代电催化剂的可行性。氢和甲醇燃料电池在运输车辆和小型静态电源中是有吸引力的未来能源。目前主要的阳极电催化剂是Pt和Pt/Ru合金。然而，这些电催化剂存在着阻碍燃料电池商业化的两个技术障碍：在目前的金属装载水平下，它们的成本过高，而且它们容易被一氧化碳（CO）中毒。这项研究的目的是确定新的替代电催化剂，可能更便宜，更耐co。该计划的研究将包括物理气相沉积（PVD）合成和碳化钨薄膜的表征，原位条件下反应途径的研究，以及氢和甲醇燃料电池电催化性能的评估。对氢、甲醇、水和一氧化碳在碳化物表面上的反应的系统和分子水平的理解将得到发展。PVD合成、表面科学研究和现场电化学评价的结合将是独特和创新的。成功发现更便宜和更耐CO的电催化剂对基础研究和商业应用都具有重要意义。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供教育机会，在课堂和实验室中学习与燃料电池相关的基本概念。拟议的研究还将使学生有机会利用布鲁克海文国家实验室的国家同步加速器光源（NSLS）的同步加速器设备，这将为学生提供在个别学术实验室无法获得的科学广度和深度。

AbstractProposal Title: Alternative Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Methanol Fuel CellsProposal Number: CTS - 0518900Principal Investigator: Jingguang G. ChenInstitution: University of Delaware Analysis (rationale for decision):The project will determine the feasibility of using tungsten carbides, as well as Pt supported on tungsten carbides, as alternative electrocatalysts for hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. Hydrogen and methanol fuel cells are attractive future energy sources in transportation vehicles and in small-scale static power supplies. At present the leading anode electrocatalysts consist of Pt and Pt/Ru alloys. However, these electrocatalysts are associated with two technical hurdles that hinder the commercialization of fuel cells: their prohibitively high cost at the current metal loading levels, and their susceptibility to catalyst poisoning by carbon monoxide (CO). The objective of the proposed research is to identify novel alternative electrocatalysts that are potentially less expensive and more CO-tolerant. The proposed research will include physical vapor deposition (PVD) synthesis and characterization of tungsten carbide films, investigation of reaction pathways under in situ conditions, and evaluation of electrocatalytic performance in hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. A systematic and molecular-level understanding of the reactions of hydrogen, methanol, water and CO on carbide surfaces will be developed. The combination of PVD synthesis, surface science studies, and in-situ electrochemical evaluation will be unique and innovative. The successful discovery of less expensive and more CO tolerant electrocatalysts will be of significant importance for both fundamental studies and for commercial applications. The project will provide educational opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to learn basic concepts related to fuel cells, both in the classroom and in laboratories. The proposed research will also give students an opportunity to utilize the synchrotron facilities at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which will provide students the scientific breadth and depth that are unavailable at individual academic laboratories.