Development and modelling of aligned/controlled Pt catalysts for low loading, high power density PEMFC's

开发燃料电池技术的根本动机是提供更清洁的能源，并改善目前生活在城市中的人们的生活质量，他们长期受到严重的空气和噪音污染。目前，燃料电池商业化的最大障碍是高成本。该项目旨在通过提高认识和改进工程来降低这一成本。该研究旨在更好地理解催化剂微观结构对PEM（聚合物电解质膜）燃料电池性能的作用。几个软件工具将被开发和验证，这将使催化剂优化和最终的主要成本降低，这将促进PEM燃料电池的商业化。该项目涉及巴拉德电力系统的重大贡献，并将用于培训四名研究生和两名博士后研究员，其中一人将在巴拉德现场花费大量时间。所有HQP将受益于皇后大学，加拿大皇家军事学院和巴拉德之间的强大和富有成效的合作。这项工作的一个重要部分是利用增强的理解，通过催化碳纳米管的排列来开发纳米工程催化剂。预计铂装载量将大幅减少，这将降低成本，并有助于加速PEM燃料电池在加拿大的商业化，从而巩固加拿大在这一技术中的领导地位。

The underlying motivation for developing fuel-cell technology is to provide cleaner energy and to improve the quality of life for people who are currently living in cities in which they are chronically subjected to substantial levels of air and noise pollution. Currently, the most significant barrier to fuel cell commercialization is high cost. This project is targeted at reducing this cost through enhanced understanding and improved engineering. The research is aimed at developing a better understanding of the role of catalyst micro-structure on the performance of PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cells. Several software tools will be developed and validated that will enable catalyst optimization and ultimately major cost reductions, which will facilitate the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. This project involves a significant contribution from Ballard Power Systems and will serve to train four graduate students and two post-doctoral fellows, one of whom will spend a significant amount of time on-site at Ballard. All HQP will benefit from a strong and productive collaboration between Queen's University, the Royal Military College of Canada, and Ballard. A significant portion of this work is to use the enhanced understanding to develop nano-engineered catalysts through the alignment of catalysed carbon nanotubes. Significant reductions in platinum loadings are anticipated and will reduce costs and help accelerate the commercialization of PEM fuel cells in Canada thus cementing Canada's leadership position in this technology.