Nanostructured Electrodes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage

人们越来越意识到，纳米技术将对能源生产和储存产生深远的影响。孙博士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。* 这项申请的目的是领导一个关于纳米结构材料作为电极的可控合成和表征的有力研究计划，以应对燃料电池和锂电池的挑战。该提案涵盖两个领域的基础研究：（i）纳米结构材料作为PEM燃料电池能量转换的新型催化剂;以及（ii）纳米结构材料作为锂空气电池储能的先进阴极和固态电解质。在这项拟议的研究中的一个重要方面是应用各种先进的表征技术的结构和键合的催化剂，催化剂载体的相互作用，纳米结构以及反应机理的调查。发现基金（DG）支持基础研究和基础科学，而孙博士的其他资金支持更多的应用研究。 对于PEM燃料电池，成本和耐久性是PEMFC系统在经济上可行之前必须克服的两个主要障碍。目前的PEMFC技术仍然存在铂利用率低、传质能力有限和电极结构中基于炭黑的载体的电化学稳定性差的问题。因此，新的电极设计，以及低成本和稳定的催化剂和载体的开发将为我们提供降低成本和性能差距的手段，以实现商业可行性。具体目标包括：目的1-利用原子层沉积技术制备单原子或团簇Pt基催化剂;目的2 -制备一维Pt基超薄纳米线纳米结构催化剂。预计集成的基于纳米结构的燃料电池电极将是提供更高催化性能、高催化剂利用率、高耐久性和更长燃料电池工作寿命的理想材料。 锂空气电池因其极高的能量密度潜力而备受关注;然而，需要解决的关键挑战与阴极电极中的氧气还原速率缓慢和高度不稳定的电解质有关。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;目标4 -用于锂空气电池的全固态电解质。预计3D纳米结构电极，ALD合成的新型催化剂和固态电解质的组合将导致锂空气电池的高容量和稳定性电极。原位XRD和同步加速器等原位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质之间关系的理解，从而设计和开发高效电极。* 这项创新的研究计划将充分利用孙博士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为HQP提供纳米技术和清洁能源方面的可转移技能，包括从纳米材料合成，先进表征到电极制造的各个方面，以便他们在加拿大的工业和学术部门都有很高的需求。该计划的成功完成将有利于加拿大工业和纳米技术界，加速燃料电池和锂空气电池的商业化进程，直接减少环境污染。

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.