Nanostructured Electrodes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage

人们越来越意识到，纳米技术将对能源的生产和储存产生深远的影响。孙先生将继续利用他在纳米技术方面的专业知识来应对清洁能源使用方面的挑战。这项拟议应用的目标是领导一项关于纳米结构材料作为电极的受控合成和表征的强有力的研究计划，以应对燃料电池和锂电池的挑战。这项建议包括两个领域的基础研究：(I)纳米材料作为PEM燃料电池能量转换的新型催化剂；(Ii)纳米材料作为先进的阴极和固态电解液用于锂空气电池的储能。这项研究的一个重要方面是应用各种先进的表征技术来研究催化剂的结构和成键、催化剂与载体的相互作用、纳米结构以及反应机理。探索基金(DG)支持基础研究和基础科学，而孙先生的其他资金支持更多的应用研究。对于PEM燃料电池来说，在PEMFC系统变得经济可行之前，成本和耐用性是必须克服的两大障碍。目前的PEMFC技术仍然存在铂利用率低、传质能力有限、电极结构中炭黑载体的电化学稳定性差等问题。因此，新颖的电极设计，以及开发低成本、稳定的催化剂和载体，将为我们提供缩小成本和性能差距的手段，从而实现商业可行性。具体目标包括：目标1-通过原子层沉积技术制备单原子或簇状铂基催化剂；以及目标2-一维铂基超细纳米线纳米结构作为新型催化剂。预计集成纳米结构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、更高的催化剂利用率、更高的耐久性和更长的燃料电池使用寿命。锂空气电池因其在电动汽车中极高的能量密度潜力而引起了人们的极大关注；然而，需要解决的关键挑战与阴极氧还原速度慢和电解液高度不稳定有关。具体目标包括：目标3-用于锂空气电池的3D非碳纳米结构电极和新型催化剂；以及目标4-用于锂空气电池的全固态电解液。三维纳米结构电极、ALD合成的新型催化剂和固态电解液的结合有望得到高容量和稳定的Li-Air电池电极。原位X射线衍射仪和同步加速器等现场表征技术将有助于加深对放电/充电产物与所用催化剂和电解液之间关系的了解，从而设计和开发高效电极。这一创新研究计划将充分利用孙先生在清洁能源纳米技术方面的专业知识。拟议计划提供的培训将使HQP在纳米技术和清洁能源方面获得可转让的技能，包括从纳米材料合成、先进表征到电极制造的方方面面，因此它们在加拿大的工业和学术部门都将受到高度需求。该计划的成功完成将加速燃料电池和锂空气电池的商业化进程，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 nanotechnology will have a profound impact on energy generation and storage. Dr. Sun will continue to use his expertise in nanotechnology to address challenges in the use to clean energy. The objective of this proposed application is to lead a vigorous research program on the controlled synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials as electrodes to address challenges in fuel cells and Li batteries. This proposal covers basic studies in two areas: (i) nanostructured materials as novel catalyst for PEM fuel cells in energy conversion; and (ii) nanostructured materials as advanced cathodes and solid-state electrolytes for Li-Air batteries in energy storage. An important aspect in this proposed research is to apply various advanced characterization techniques for the investigation of structure and bonding of catalysts, catalysts-support interactions, and nanostructures as well as reaction mechanisms. The Discovery Grant (DG) supports fundamental studies and basic science while Dr. Sun's other funding supports more applied studies. For PEM fuel cells, cost and durability are two major roadblocks that have to be overcome before the PEMFC system can become economically viable. Current PEMFC technology still suffers from low platinum utilization, limited mass transport capability, and poor electrochemical stability of the carbon black-based support in the electrode structure. Therefore, novel electrode design, and development of a low cost and stable catalyst and support will provide us the means to reduce the cost and performance gaps towards commercial viability. The specific objectives include: Objective 1- single-atom or cluster Pt-based catalysts by atomic layer deposition technique; and Objective 2 - one-dimensional Pt-based ultra-thin nanowire nanostructures as novel catalysts. It is expected that integrated nanostructured-based fuel cell electrodes will be ideal materials for providing a higher catalytic performance, high catalyst utilization, high durability, and a longer fuel cell operational life. Li-Air batteries have attracted much attention due to their extremely high-energy density potential for Electric Vehicles; however, critical challenges to be addressed relate to the slow rate of O2 reduction in the cathode electrode and highly unstable electrolytes. The specific objectives include: Objective 3 - 3D non-carbon nanostructured electrodes and novel catalysts for Li-Air batteries; and Objective 4 - all solid-state electrolytes for Li-air batteries. It is expected that the combination of 3D nanostructured electrodes, novel catalysts synthesized by ALD and solid-state electrolytes will result in high capacity and stability electrodes for Li-Air batteries. The in-situ characterization techniques such as in-situ XRD and synchrotron will help to increase understanding of the relationship between the discharge/charge products and applied catalysts and electrolytes, leading to designing and developing highly effective electrodes. This innovative research program will take full advantage of Dr. Sun' expertise in nanotechnology for clean energy. The training provided by the proposed program will give HQP transferable skills in nanotechnology and clean energy including all aspects from synthesis of nanomaterials, advanced characterization to electrode fabrication so that they will be in high demand both in the industrial and academic sectors in Canada. The successful completion of the proposed program will be of benefit to Canadian industry, and to the nanotechnology community by accelerating the fuel cell and Li-Air battery commercialization process and directly reducing environmental pollution.