Aligned one-dimensional nanostructure electrodes from Electrically Conductive pOrous coordiNation polymer for proton exChange mEmbrane fueL celLs

Descripción del proyecto

Nuevos catalizadores para unas pilas de combustible de membrana de intercambio de protones más duraderas y rentables

Las pilas de combustible son fuentes de energía no contaminantes que convierten la energía química en electricidad con alta eficiencia y sin emisiones. Las pilas de combustible de membrana de intercambio de protones son un tipo de pila de combustible pensada especialmente para el transporte, así como para aplicaciones móviles y fijas de pilas de combustible. Lo que las distingue de otros tipos es su baja temperatura de funcionamiento, la rapidez de encendido y apagado, la elevada eficiencia energética y una alta flexibilidad eléctrica. El proyecto EconCell, financiado con fondos europeos, tiene previsto desarrollar pilas de combustible que no requieran costosos catalizadores de platino. El proyecto desarrollará una nueva generación de electrodos de pilas de combustible de membrana de intercambio de protones de bajo coste y duraderos a partir de nanoestructuras tridimensionales de electrocatalizadores metálicos de un grupo diferente al del platino. Los científicos aprovecharán los avances alcanzados con líquidos iónicos, polímeros de coordinación porosos y complejos metálicos con nitrógeno.

Objetivo

To address environmental hazardous impact of fossil fuel energy technologies and the high dependency on them, clean energy systems have been developed for future energy fulfilment. Among them, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is considered as a highly potential electrochemical energy conversion technology because of its low operation temperature, quick start-up and shutdown, high energy efficiency and power flexibility. However, the sluggish cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) undermines the overall performance. Up to now, the commonly used catalysts are still carbon supported Pt-based nanoparticles, with which the high cost of Pt undesirably increases the overall cost of the system. In EconCell, we will develop a new generation of low-cost, active site enriched and durable PEMFC electrodes from three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures of non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) electrocatalysts. It consists of protic hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) encapsulated nanowire arrays (NWAs) of electronically conductive porous coordination polymer (E-PCP) selectively assembled on N-doped aligned carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). The ambitious aim will be achieved with the complementary skills of Experienced Researcher (E-PCPs and nanowires) and supervisors (fuel cells and ionic liquids), based on the unique porosity, conductivity and stability of E-PCPs, the excellent catalytic activities of nitrogen-containing (N) transition metal complexes (MCs), and oxyphilicity and hydrophobicity of ILs. EconCell will extend significantly the existing knowledge of coordinated N active sites, transition metals, ILs and 1D nanostructure electrodes, making available for predicting the catalytic performance of new non-PGM catalyst systems for PEMFCs. The advancement will improve the development level of related fields, bringing about both fundamental and practical impact on various electrochemical energy conversion systems, e.g. electrolyzers, batteries, supercapacitors, etc.