Project description DEENESFRITPL Novel diffusion architectures are a breath of fresh air for fuel cell technology Fuel cells can efficiently convert the chemical energy stored in the bonds of hydrogen gas to electrical energy with only water as emission. They have attracted global attention with successful applications in sectors including transportation and stationary power generation. The key reactions at the two electrodes, both relying on catalysts, are hydrogen oxidation (HOR) and oxygen reduction. The diffusion rate of the reactants is critically important to the HOR but has not been considered in many studies, which typically focus on optimising the catalysts. The EU-funded HydrogenLung project is developing a completely new method to incorporate lung-like multi-stage gas channels into the catalyst layer to enhance diffusion, increase efficiency and boost the application of eco-friendly fuel cell technology. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective In researches about hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) at the anode of a fuel cell, most researchers concentrate on the intrinsic activity and stability of catalysts, while few researches study the gas diffusion effect in depth, which is however the rate-determine step for most HOR. Enlightened by the efficient lungs’ supply of oxygen to human with multistage bronchi and pulmonary alveoli, we plan to improve the hydrogen gas diffusion for HOR by constructing multistage superaerophilic gas channels (MSGC) in the catalyst layer (CL). Traditionally, to build gas channels in CL, people modify powder catalysts with aerophilic binder, which however cause aggregation and therefore hindered the transfer of electron and mass. Besides, part of the randomly made gas channels are closed that cannot transfer hydrogen actually. Thus, there are two challenges in MSGC construction: a solid and strong hierarchical micro-nano skeleton, that won’t aggregate, to support catalyst and channels, and a method to control the direction of the channels. Herein, we propose tungsten carbide nanoarrays (WC NA) as the skeleton for Pt catalyst and invent a vacuum-control method based on superwetting technology to direct the gas channels. Although WC nanoparticles have been proved promising as the substrate of Pt for HOR, WC NA has never been tried. Based on the novel structure, we will study the relationship between structure, gas diffusion, and HOR efficiency in depth. Targeting at the rate-determine step of HOR, we’re expecting a theoretical breakthrough in HOR, which will offer an alternative approach for making hydrogen anode in fuel cell industry. Fields of science natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gasnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR Net EU contribution € 202 680,96 Address OTAKAARI 1 02150 Espoo Finland See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 202 680,96