Objective For PEM Fuel Cells to attain economic viability for mass production, catalyst cost must be reduced. Currently, platinum-based supported nanoparticle catalysts, are used for the hydrogen oxidation reaction at the anode. The replacement of such catalysts by cheaper non-noble alternatives is proposed. Currently, noble metal based systems alone exhibit both the stability required in the strongly acidic humidified environment of the fuel cell, and the sufficiently large current densities required. Hence, the challenge is to find binary, ternary or even quaternary non-noble systems, which have the necessarily high rates of hydrogen oxidation and which are stable in the environment of the fuel cell.In addition, new developments in membrane technology highlight the need to explore the performance of catalysts in a higher temperature regime (in the region of 130-200°C). To accomplish these aims the following novel route will be used involving a multidisciplinary approach from theoretical design through to the final operating membrane electrode assembly. Initially, Density Functional Theory studies will be used to calculate critical bond energies and activation barriers of processes relevant to the fuel cell electrodes and produce trends in reactivities for metal alloy species and intermetallic compounds.The next step will be the fast screening of catalysts for these descriptors using combinatorial methods. These two preliminary steps will determine the most promising systems and compositions to take forward into the subsequent stages. The selected catalysts will then be produced as carbon-supported nanoparticles and subsequently investigated with regards to their performance for the hydrogen oxidation reaction, their stability to acidic media and tolerance to CO and CO2. Finally, the behaviour and stability of selected catalysts will be assessed within the single cell environment and their potential for large-scale production investigated. Fields of science natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisengineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells Programme(s) FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NMP-2004-3.4.5.1 - Basic materials and industrial process research on functional materials for fuel cells Call for proposal FP6-2004-NMP-TI-4 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET (TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK) EU contribution No data Address Anker Engelundsvej 1, Bygning 101A KONGENS LYNGBY Denmark See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES - DIRECTORATE GENERAL JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Belgium EU contribution No data Address Rue de la Loi 200 BRUSSELS See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data BORESKOV INSTITUTE OF CATALYSIS OF THE SIBERIAN BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Russia EU contribution No data Address Prospekt Akademika Lavrentieva, 5 NOVOSIBIRSK See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address University Road, Highfield SOUTHAMPTON See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UMICORE AG&CO KG Germany EU contribution No data Address Rodenbacher Chaussee 4 HANAU See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data BAYERISCHES ZENTRUM FÜR ANGEWANDTE ENERGIEFORSCHUNG E.V. (BAVARIAN CENTER FOR APPLIED ENERGY RESEARCH) Germany EU contribution No data Address Am Hubland WÜRZBURG See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution No data Address Arcisstrasse 21 MUENCHEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data