Next Generation Materials for Fuel Cell-based Alcohol Sensors

快速、可靠和经济有效的燃料电池乙醇检测传感器对于提高加拿大的道路安全至关重要。目前，这些系统采用的燃料电池技术可以追溯到20世纪70年代。自那时以来，已经取得了重大进展，但尚未在这些感觉系统中进行调查和验证。这项合作研究的重点将放在下一代燃料电池乙醇传感器材料的开发上。例如，将研究采用低铂负载量和铂合金的新电极。同样，更耐用的膜材料，如伊斯顿博士实验室开发的用于高温燃料电池的膜材料也将被研究。除了加强对这种感觉系统的基本理解之外，这项研究的发现预计将产生重要的经济和工业后果，因为在这个项目中开发的材料可能会产生比目前使用的设备更敏感和更经济有效的感觉设备。

Fast, reliable and cost effective fuel cell-based sensors for ethanol detection are critical to increase road safety in Canada. Currently these systems employ fuel cell technology that dates back to the 1970's. Significant advances have been made since that time but have not been investigated and validated in these sensory systems. This collaborative research endeavor will be focused on the development of next generation materials for fuel cell-based ethanol sensors. For example, new electrodes that employ lower platinum loadings as well as platinum alloys will be investigated. Similarly, more durable membrane materials, such as those targeted for high-temperature fuel cell applications which have been developed in Dr. Easton's lab will also be investigated. In addition to enhancing the fundamental understanding of this sensory system, the findings of this research are expected to have important economic and industrial consequences since the materials developed in this project may yield sensory devices that are more sensitive and more cost effective than the devices currently in use.