Low Cost High Performance Novel Catalysts for Direct Alcohol Alkaline Fuel Cells using anion exchange membrane and bio-fuels

这个中英（QUB-DICP）联合项目旨在提供低成本高性能的便携式动力燃料电池技术，该技术能够使用含酒精的燃料，重点是使用生物燃料，如生物乙醇和甘油，从生物原料。该合作研究旨在通过利用中国和英国团队在直接醇碱性阴离子交换膜燃料电池（DA-AAEM-FC）开发方面极具前景的成果，以及醇燃料碱性燃料电池阳极和阴极催化剂文献中令人兴奋的数据，在低温燃料电池研究和开发方面占据主动地位。醇在碱性条件下的电催化氧化相对未被探索，但在文献中有一些关于低成本但高活性和选择性的非Pt催化剂的非常有前途的报道。我们的主要战略是扩大潜在燃料的范围，最终扩大到可持续生物炼制的副产品、废物和（廉价）产品。燃料电池燃料从通常由化石燃料生产的氢和甲醇扩展到生物原料，例如生物乙醇，将大大减少对化石燃料的依赖以用于便携式发电。此外，与锂离子充电相比，使用直接生物原料燃料电池作为便携式设备的电源，将减少对化石燃料发电的依赖。此外，原料的多样化将允许使用更高能量密度的燃料，例如与16 MJ 1 -1的甲醇相比，乙醇提供24 MJ 1 -1。此外，安全方面可以针对应用进行定制，例如甲醇是有毒的，并且这阻止了便携式燃料电池系统更广泛地部署到关注这一点的区域和环境中，例如在飞机机舱中。受益的时间尺度将取决于基于燃料电池的便携式动力装置的持续引入。灵活使用燃料的形式及其纯度，而不会对燃料电池的寿命产生不利影响，将在未来几年提供重要的机会和影响。开发一种高效、耐用的碱性燃料电池，利用更便宜的催化剂，并获得更广泛的燃料，将对电力/能源技术的许多方面产生重大影响。英国和中国的团队拥有与拟议工作相关的强大和互补的技能。两个团队都展示了各自的成就，并试图通过这个新颖而具有挑战性的联合项目，在电催化和燃料电池研发方面开展强强联合的合作，并在整个项目中持续进行双向知识转移。该合作项目将适时为中英两国团队提供一个良好的平台，以建立长期的双赢伙伴关系，共同致力于清洁可持续能源技术，为两国带来巨大利益。

This UK-China (QUB-DICP) joint project will aim to provide low cost high performance Portable Power Fuel Cell technology capable of operating on alcohol containing fuels with an emphasis on use of biofuels such as bio-ethanol and glycerol, from bio-feedstocks. The collaborative research seeks to seize the initiative in low temperature fuel cell research and development by capitalising upon extremely promising results on Direct Alcohol Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (DA-AAEM-FC) development by both China and UK teams, and exciting data in the literature on anode and cathode catalysts for alcohol-fuelled alkaline fuel cells. The electro-catalytic oxidation of alcohols under alkaline conditions is relatively unexplored, but with some extremely promising reports in the literature on low cost but highly active and selective non-Pt catalysts. Our main strategy is to extend the range of potential fuels, ultimately to side products, waste and (cheap) products from sustainable bio-refining. The broadening of fuel cell fuels from hydrogen and methanol, fuels generally produced from fossil fuels, to bio-feedstocks, e.g. bioethanol, will greatly decrease reliance on fossil fuels for portable power generation. In addition, the use of direct biofeedstock fuel cells as power sources for portable devices as compared to Li-ion rechargeable, will reduced reliance of fossil fuels on electricity generation. In addition, the diversification of feedstock will allow higher energy density fuels to be employed, for example ethanol provides 24 MJ l-1 compared with methanol at 16 MJ l-1. In addition, the safety aspects can be tailored for the application, for example methanol is toxic and this prevents wider deployment of portable fuel cell systems into areas and environments where this is a concern, e.g. in aircraft cabins. The time scale of benefit will be dependent on the continuing introduction of portable power devices based on fuel cells. Flexibility in the form of the fuel used and its purity without having a detrimental effect on the fuel cell lifetime will provide a significant opportunity and impact in future years. The development of an efficient, durable alkaline fuel cell, utilising cheaper catalysts and accessing a wider range of fuels will have a major impact on a number of aspects of power/energy technology. The UK and China teams have strong and complementary skills relevant to the proposed work. Both teams have demonstrated individual achievements and are trying to develop the strength-plus-strength cooperation on electro-catalysis and fuel cell R&D, through this novel and challenging joint project, with a continue two-way transfer of knowledge throughout the project. The joint project will timely provide an excellent platform for the UK and China teams to establish a long-term win-win partnership for working together on the clean sustainable energy technology which will bring great benefits to both countries.