Descripción del proyecto
Reducción del coste de las pilas de combustible con catalizadores de aerogel
Las pilas de combustible de membrana de intercambio de protones (PEMFC) podrían revolucionar la distribución y conversión de energía, en particular para la propulsión de vehículos y la generación portátil de energía. En la actualidad, los materiales de los catalizadores que se aplican a los cátodos suponen una importante carga económica, lo que es un obstáculo para la comercialización. En el proyecto financiado con fondos europeos LAACat, los investigadores están empleando una categoría única de materiales denominada aerogeles metálicos. Están compuestos por una red en 3D de nanopartículas metálicas y combinan las ventajas de los metales con las de los aerogeles. El proyecto se propone aumentar la escala del proceso Tsol-gel que ha desarrollado para integrarlo en la producción estándar de aerogeles metálicos. Si lo logran, los aerogeles metálicos se podrán utilizar para producir PEMFC comerciales.
Objetivo
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have attracted considerable worldwide attention because of their high energy conversion efficiency and low environmental impact. Their commercialization, however, is inhibited by the high loadings of the costly catalyst materials used at their cathodes, which is in turn related to their insufficient oxygen reduction activity and inadequate long-term stability. A promising solution that simultaneously addresses all these issues is the design of pure metallic, unsupported catalysts with extended surfaces. A particularly promising class of unsupported catalyst that has recently emerged is that of metallic aerogels, which consists of extended metal backbone nano-networks. This exclusive class of materials combines the unique properties of metals (such as good electrical and thermal conductivity, catalytic activity, and ductility/malleability) with the unique properties of common aerogels (high surface area, ultralow density, and high porosity). The fabrication of pure metallic aerogels with metal backbones by the direct sol-gel method was recently achieved for the first time by our group. These pure metallic aerogels have excellent performance potential in electrocatalytic applications.Successful upscaling of the straightforward aerogel preparation procedure will allow for subsequent testing of the material in market-ready PEMFCs with a 30 cm2 electrode area. The aim of this proof of concept project is therefore to create a prototype PEMFC using bimetallic aerogel electrocatalysts from large-scale synthesis (from technology readiness level 3 to 5) and design the optimal route-to-market strategy that would ensure swift adoption of our technology in an industrial setting. This prototype and the business case will be introduced at commercial conferences and fairs in order to establish contacts to European-based companies and to pave the way for technology transfer and commercialization.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotInstitución de acogida
01069 Dresden
Alemania