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H2020Individual fellowship2021–2023

GemDEFC · Single layer N-doped Graphene modified polymer Electrolyte Membrane with aligned nanowire electrodes for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2021-09-01 → 2023-10-11
EU contribution
€224,934
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

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Results in brief

Single layer N-doped Graphene modified polymer Electrolyte Membrane with aligned nanowire electrodes for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

The overall aim of this project is to develop DMFC electrodes with catalyst nanostructures from PtRu nanowire arrays, providing a further understanding of structure-property relationships of practical fuel cell electrodes. During the research period, the electrodes with catalyst nanostructures from PtRu nanowire arrays (PtNi NW) were developed and formic acid reduction method were explored. In the present study comparative electrochemical study of methanol electro-oxidation reaction, the effect of ruthenium nanowires (NWs) addition and experimental parameters on methanol electro-oxidation reaction at high performance carbon supported Pt (NWs) and Pt_Ru (NWs) catalysts have been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and single cell test. Enhanced power performance is successfully demonstrated in the single-cell test. Pt_Ru NWs/C electrode shows the highest power density of 138.6 mW cm–2 due to the improved mass transport characteristics and CO intermediate tolerance which is 2.1 times higher than that of Pt/C (65.7 mW cm−2), 1.5 times higher than Pt Ru/VC (90 mW cm−2) and 1.3 times higher than Pt Ru/GC (106 mW cm−2). The improved power performance of Pt_Ru NWs/CB demonstrates that incorporating Ru into the PtRu alloy NWs catalyst has a beneficial impact on its ability to facilitate the MOR. The catalyst stability was examined through accelerated degradation tests (ADT) in the single-cell test. The mechanisms behind were explored. Present work carried out contributes towards positive controlling of climate change and European policy objectives and strategies and have an impact on policy making. The results and understanding of catalyst layer structure and performances will power the application market, like in sustainable power generators and vehicles, and also the fuel producing technologies. A further understanding of electrode structures will also benefit the design and development of other electrochemical devices, e.g. batteries, super capacitors and sensors. The achievement of in-situ growing approach could also benefit for developing new nanostructures for industrial catalysis, catalysts for bio-fuel and bio-sensors, etc.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), benefiting from low operating temperature, environment-friendly operation, simplicity, quick start-up and shutdown, have been demonstrated as sources of portable and backup power in consumer electronic devices. If bio-ethanol, as the most used bio-fuel world-wide with an existing supply chain and infrastructure, is used, the carbon emission from DEFCs can be considered as zero. These advantages make the DEFC a potential alternative to existing technologies to fill the increasing gap between energy demand and energy storage capacity in the low power applications. However, the power performance of DEFCs is low, mainly limited by ethanol crossover through polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and the slow kinetic activity of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) at the anode. Thick membranes required to reduce the ethanol crossover but significantly increasing proton conducting resistance. A very high catalyst loading also needed at both electrodes to overcome the sluggish EOR and compensate the poisoning of the crossed ethanol. Challenges for DEFCs include reducing Pt loading and ethanol crossover to increase energy and power density, improve reliability and reduce cost. In GemDEFC, inspired by the unique proton conductivity and high impermeability to molecules of single layer graphene, the excellent mass transfer performance and catalytic activities of aligned 1D nanostructure electrodes, we’ll develop low ethanol crossover and highly proton conductive PEM modified with single layer N-doped graphene on the surface, and further hybrid with aligned Pt alloy or even platinum group metal–free (PGM-free) ZnS nanowire catalyst electrodes to achieve low-cost, high power performance and reliable DEFCs that can meet the targets for commercial applications in the low power applications. GemDEFC is built on the complementary skills of the Experienced Researcher (graphene and surface modification) and supervisors (1D nanostructures and fuel cells).

Original text from CORDIS.

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union