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Lung-like gas supply for hydrogen oxidation reaction in fuel cell anode

Project description

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.

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.

Coordinator

AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR
Net EU contribution
€ 202 680,96
Address
OTAKAARI 1
02150 Espoo
Finland

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Region
Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 202 680,96