Objective
The goal of this study is two-folds: first to develop a new class of catalytic nanostructures based on semiconductor-metal hybrid composites and then to optimize their performance as fuel cell electrocatalysts. Presently, the commercial use of fuel cells is not yet viable due to the inefficiency of the required four electron reduction of adsorbed oxygen species at the cell cathode. This deficiency poses a fundamental challenge to the commercialization of fuel cell technologies. Several electrocatalytic metals have been employed to facilitate this oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), with platinum and platinum based alloys exhibiting the highest catalytic activity. Despite the use of platinum catalysts, the electron-transfer kinetics at the fuel cell cathode is still languid. In addition, platinum is an expensive precious metal, therefore, to achieve large-scale development and commercialization of fuel cells, it is essential that an alternative catalytic material is manufactured. To address this issue, we propose to design a novel catalytic structure which is comprised of a metal anchored onto a semiconductor body. This semiconductor-metal composite structure will take advantage of the intrinsic electron-transfer mechanisms within semiconductors and couple that with the catalytic activity of metals, yielding an electrocatalyst which provides excellent catalytic performance and cost-effectiveness. Fundamentally, this work will broaden our understanding of various essential parameters, such as material composition (the semiconductor and the metal), electron-transfer dynamics (i.e. electrochemical, photochemical), morphology of the nanostrucutres, as well as crystallinity, which impact the performance of an electrocatalyst. Such a fundamental framework is critical in the optimization of catalytic activity and thus will provide invaluable insights which will benefit the development of fuel cell technology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
84105 Beer Sheva
Israel
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.