35
Improved
Fuel Cell Cathode Catalysts Using Combinatorial Methods--NuVant
Systems, Inc., 10 West 33rd Street, PH 127, Chicago, IL
60616-3730; 787-754-1756, www.nuvant.com
Dr.
Junhua Jiang, Principal Investigator,
Ms.
Linda Ramirez, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83734
Amount:
$650,000
The commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is hindered not
only by the high cost of platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts, but also because these
catalysts have insufficient activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
In a PEM fuel cell that uses state-of-the art cathode Pt catalysts, about
80 % of the overall cell losses is caused by the sluggish kinetics of the ORR,
even at Pt loading as high as 4 mg/cm2.
Therefore, it is urgently important to develop novel electrocatalysts
that are more active than Pt. This
project will develop high throughput combinatorial strategies and a mechanistic
model to identify new catalyst compositions that will improve the ORR kinetics. In
Phase I, highly efficient and multi-function high throughput screening systems,
coupled with advanced process robotics, were established.
Compared to the commercial pure Pt catalyst, a significant enhancement of
electrocatalytic activity was achieved by alloying Pt and Co.
Phase II will concentrate on the combinatorial discovery of ternary alloy
electrocatalysts of Pt and transition metals and the high throughput screening
of synthesized catalysts. An order-of-magnitude improvement of catalytic
activity will be demonstrated.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: A highly efficient oxygen reduction catalyst would be a huge boost to the
commercialization of PEM fuel cells for a wide range of applications in
transportation, portable power, communications and military markets.