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

人们越来越意识到纳米科学和纳米技术可以对能源的产生、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开发中，用于解决广泛的能源问题，如：太阳能电池、氢的产生和储存、电池和燃料电池。该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久性挑战。具体而言，该项目将涉及各种多孔，中空和树枝状Pt和Pt合金纳米结构的合成，控制，评估和优化，用作燃料电池的电催化剂。对Pt纳米结构的电子结构以及Pt原子与Pt基合金纳米结构的其他金属元素的相互作用的理解的增加将为设计具有受控和期望结构以及增强的催化性能的纳米结构PEM燃料电池电催化剂提供重要指导。特别是，同步加速器表征技术将用于获得这一信息。可以预期，新型Pt基催化剂燃料电池电极将是提供更高催化性能和催化剂利用率以及更长燃料电池工作寿命的理想材料。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，并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人在清洁能源纳米技术方面的专业知识。加拿大通用汽车公司和西方的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有利于加拿大工业和纳米技术界，加速燃料电池的商业化进程，直接减少环境污染。

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.