CAREER: Highly-ordered Electrode/Catalyst Assembly in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Enhanced Catalyst Utilization

职业：质子交换膜燃料电池中的高度有序电极/催化剂组件，以提高催化剂利用率

• 批准号: 1150528
• 负责人: Vibha Kalra
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: Drexel University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2019-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1150528&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Highly; ordered; Electrode; Catalyst

ABSTRACTFuel cells are seen as promising, environmentally desirable alternatives to fossil fuel powered applications, particularly for transportation. Significant investments have been made in this area, but economical fuel cells remain a target. A key factor that has limited the progress in broad deployment of fuel cell devices is the high cost of the incorporated platinum catalyst nanoparticles. In this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award, Professor Vibha Kalra of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA will attempt to change this situation using a unique nanofiber-based catalyst layer in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The catalyst will be fabricated via a process called electrospinning. Electrospinning is a simple fiber formation technique that uses strong electric field to accelerate and thin a polymer solution/melt jet, resulting in fibers with nanoscale diameters (50-500 nm). The project will involve experiments and multi-scale simulations to first understand and tailor the internal assembly in the proposed catalyst layer followed by a detailed investigation of the effect of this nanoscale assembly on performance in fuel cells. The aim is to develop an intertwined network within the catalyst layer, such that the catalyst (platinum) nanoparticles have simultaneous access to all reactants for the electrochemical reaction to take place efficiently. This will maximize the electrochemical surface area and consequently the utilization of catalyst nanoparticles, thereby resulting in lower total catalyst cost. The integrated educational objective of this project is to help students at K-12, undergraduate and graduate levels, particularly women and those from under-represented minorities, to appreciate the power of science and engineering in general and to inspire them to contribute to society through continued research in materials and renewable energy. A comprehensive K-12 outreach program will be developed by Prof. Kalra, involving workshops and research experience for students and teachers in the Philadelphia area, where currently 80% of students are minorities. The integrated educational activities will generate interest in materials and energy research among a much larger audience at various education levels.

抽象燃料细胞被视为具有化石燃料供电的应用，特别是用于运输的有前途的，环保的替代方案。在这一领域已经进行了大量投资，但经济燃料电池仍然是一个目标。限制燃料电池设备广泛部署进展的关键因素是掺入铂催化剂纳米颗粒的高成本。在这个教师早期职业发展（职业）计划奖中，宾夕法尼亚州费城德雷克塞尔大学的Vibha Kalra教授将尝试使用Proton Exchange Membrane（PEM）燃料电池中独特的基于纳米纤维的催化剂层来改变这种情况。该催化剂将通过称为静电纺丝的过程制造。静电纺丝是一种简单的纤维形成技术，它使用强电场来加速和薄的聚合物溶液/熔体射流，从而导致纳米级直径（50-500 nm）的纤维。该项目将涉及实验和多尺度模拟，以首先理解和量身定制内部组装，然后在拟议的催化剂层中详细研究该纳米级组装对燃料电池性能的影响。目的是在催化剂层中开发一个相互交织的网络，以使催化剂（铂）纳米颗粒同时访问所有反应物以有效地进行电化学反应。这将最大化电化学表面积，从而最大程度地利用催化剂纳米颗粒，从而导致总催化剂成本较低。该项目的综合教育目标是帮助K-12的学生，本科和研究生级别，尤其是妇女以及代表性不足的少数群体的学生，以欣赏一般的科学和工程学的力量，并通过材料和可再生能源的持续研究来激发他们为社会做出贡献。 Kalra教授将制定一项全面的K-12外展计划，其中涉及费城地区的学生和老师的研讨会和研究经验，目前有80％的学生是少数群体。综合的教育活动将在各种教育水平上更大的受众中对材料和能源研究产生兴趣。