Characterization and development of magnesium alloy for alkaline Zinc-Air regeneration systems

不断恶化的环境和气候条件已导致广泛的国际 过去几十年在可持续能源领域的研发工作。许多创新已经 利用水力、风能、太阳能、地热能和生物能源来实现这一目标。虽然这些系统提供 “清洁”能源，其基础设施要求，电力输出和初始成本仍然是一个挑战， 适应因此，必须审查其他可持续能源生产系统。例如燃料 电池，产生所需的功率输出，对环境的影响最小，有能力最大限度地减少 (or消除）太阳能和风能系统的许多后勤和技术挑战。与此 ZincNyx Energy Systems Inc.开创了下一代燃料电池模块化系统。 ZincNyx开发的这项技术使用镁合金电极， 一种能量存储介质。这些电极暴露在恶劣的环境中，这最终导致它们的 不希望的腐蚀和过早降解。认识到这一挑战，ZincNyx的Fan博士 我找到了不列颠哥伦比亚省大学的比希勒博士，他有着捏造和 为不同的工业应用设计镁合金，共同致力于识别新型镁合金 ZincNyx再生燃料电池系统的电极。 在本项目中，将使用先进的方法检查当前使用的镁合金电极的腐蚀行为 表征技术（例如，SEM、X-EDS和XRD）。随后，合金成分将被 为了降低腐蚀速率而进行调整。定量研究（例如，通过浸没， 电化学方法）将能够识别添加剂，这将降低腐蚀速率， ZincNyx规定的性能目标。这项工作的结果将通过实验确定 操纵Mg基电极的腐蚀的可能性。如果成功，该项目将创造 未来的研发机会进入可持续能源生产。

Continuously deteriorating environmental and climatic conditions have been driving extensive international R&D efforts over the past decades in the field of sustainable energy sources. Much innovation has been accomplished with hydro, wind, solar, geothermal and bio-energy sources. Although these systems provide "clean" energy, their infrastructure requirements, power output, and initial cost remain a challenge for a wider adaptation. Consequently, other sustainable energy production systems must be examined. For example, fuel cells, which yield the desired power output with minimal environmental impact, have a capacity to minimize (or eliminate) many of the logistical and technological challenges of solar and wind systems. With this foundation, ZincNyx Energy Systems Inc. has pioneered the next generation of fuel cell modular systems. The technology developed at ZincNyx uses magnesium (Mg) alloy electrodes, which extract electricity from an energy-storage medium. These electrodes are exposed to a harsh environment, which ultimately causes their undesirable corrosion and premature degradation. Recognizing this challenge, Dr. Fan of ZincNyx has approached Dr. Bichler of the University of British Columbia, who has a track record of fabricating and designing Mg alloys for diverse industrial applications, to collaboratively work on identifying novel Mg alloys for electrodes for ZincNyx's regenerative fuel cell system. In this project, the corrosion behavior of currently used Mg-alloy electrodes will be examined using advanced characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, X-EDS and XRD). Subsequently, the alloy composition will be adjusted with a view to reducing the corrosion rate. Quantitative studies (e.g., via immersion and electrochemical approach) will enable identification of additives, which will reduce the corrosion rate to performance targets specified by ZincNyx. The results of this work will experimentally determine the possibility of manipulating the corrosion of the Mg-based electrodes. If successful, this project will create future opportunities for R&D into sustainable energy production.