Project description
Boosting the efficiency of transition metal–nitrogen–carbon catalysts
Fuel cells and air batteries are strong cards in the future climate-friendly energy supply. Despite their potential, their overall efficiency is severely limited by the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode. Transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) catalysts have great potential for use especially in proton exchange membrane fuel cells as an alternative to platinum and other precious metal catalysts. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EcoTrans project aims to enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying the catalytic activities of M–N–C materials prepared from acidic precursors and polymerised ionic liquids. Project results should help overcome barriers that limit the catalytic activity and catalyst utilisation in electrodes.
Objective
Among the next-generation of energy technologies, fuel cells and air batteries show great potential to meet our growing energy demands. However, their overall efficiency is severely limited by the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode. So far, Pt-based materials are regarded as the ideal ORR electrocatalyst in practical applications because of the high catalytic activity and stability. However, the scarcity, high cost, and inferior long-term stability of Pt restrict its widespread application. The development of non-platinum group metals (non-PGM) earth-abundant alternatives with high activity and durability has been considered as a crucial task. A class of materials including transition metals and carbon-based compounds have been reported as the alternative catalysts to Pt for ORR, especially in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Among them, the low cost electrocatalysts based on M-N (M, transition metal, such as Co, Fe and Ni) with carbon support (M-N-C) are the most studied. However, the relative low catalytic activity limited by the active cites, low catalyst utilization in practical electrodes because of the thick catalyst layer resulting from the high catalyst loading, and poor stability due to the leaching of transitional metals in real operation conditions are still big challenges in both fuel cells and metal-air batteries. In EcoTrans, the main purpose is to establish new knowledge of the enhancement mechanisms on catalytic activities of novel M-N-C catalysts prepared from acidic treated precursors and surface encapsulation by polymerized ionic liquids (ILs), and then based on the understanding to define the structure and synergistic effects between different elements to guide the development of low cost, highly active M-N-C based catalyst electrodes. The ambitious aim will be achieved with the complementary skills of the ER (N-C and transitional metal electrocatalysts) and supervisors (fuel cell electrodes and ILs).
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis electrocatalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.