Porous, hollow, dendrite Pt-based nanostructures for low-cost and high-performance PEM fuel cells

越来越多的人意识到纳米科学和纳米技术可以对能源的生产、储存和利用产生深远的影响。基于纳米技术的解决方案正在为一系列能源问题开发，例如：太阳能电池、氢气发电和储存、电池和燃料电池。这一战略项目的目标是利用纳米技术解决质子交换膜(PEM)燃料电池的成本和耐用性挑战。具体地说，这项拟议的项目将涉及各种多孔、中空和树枝晶铂和铂合金纳米结构的合成、控制、评估和优化，以用作燃料电池的电催化剂。对铂纳米结构的电子结构以及铂原子与其他金属元素的相互作用的深入了解将对设计具有可控结构和所需结构以及增强催化性能的纳米结构质子交换膜燃料电池电催化剂具有重要的指导意义。特别是，将使用同步加速器表征技术来获得这一信息。预计新型铂基催化燃料电池电极将是一种理想的材料，可以提供更高的催化性能和催化剂利用率，以及更长的燃料电池使用寿命。这项创新研究项目的成功完成，将大大降低燃料电池的成本，提高燃料电池的稳定性，从而加快燃料电池的商业化进程。这项创新研究项目将充分利用申请者在清洁能源纳米技术方面的专业知识。通用汽车加拿大公司和WESTERN的Sun和Sham博士将通过新型纳米材料和电极结构的创造性和创新性应用，共同应对这些挑战。该项目的成功完成将加速燃料电池的商业化进程，并直接减少环境污染，从而有利于加拿大的工业和纳米科技界。

There is a growing awareness that nanoscience and nanotechnology can have a profound impact on energy generation, storage, and utilization. Nanotechnology-based solutions are being developed for a wide range of energy problems such as: solar cells, hydrogen generation and storage, batteries, and fuel cells. The objective of this strategic project is to use nanotechnology to address the cost and durability challenges of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Specifically, this proposed project will involve the synthesis, control, evaluation, and optimization of various porous, hollow and dendrite Pt and Pt alloy nanostructures, to be used as electrocatalysts for fuel cells. The increased understanding of the electronic structure of Pt nanostructures as well as the interaction of Pt atoms and other metal elements for the Pt-based alloy nanostructures will give significant guidance to design nanostructured PEM fuel cell electrocatalysts with a controlled and desired structure as well as enhanced catalytic properties. In particular, synchrotron characterization techniques will be used to obtain this information. It is expected that novel Pt-based catalyst fuel cell electrodes will be ideal materials for providing a higher catalytic performance, and catalyst utilization, as well as a longer fuel cell operational life. The successful completion of this innovative research project will significantly lower the cost and enhance the stability of fuel cells, thereby accelerating the fuel cell commercialization process.This innovative research project will take full advantage of the applicants' expertise in nanotechnology for clean energy. General Motors Canada and Drs. Sun and Sham at Western will collaboratively approach these challenges through the creative and innovative applications of novel nanomaterials and electrode structure. Thesuccessful completion of the proposed project will be of benefit to Canadian industry, and to the nanotechnology community by accelerating the fuel cell commercialization process and directly reducing environmental pollution.