ELECTROCATALIZERS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS AND ELECTROLYSERS FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

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Description of the project: Electrocatalysts for fuel cells for direct oxidation of methanol and ethanol and electrolyzers for producing hydrogen with a polymer membrane electrolyte are formed on carbon carriers using the vacuum resource-saving method of ion-assisted deposition (IBAD – ion beam assisted deposition) of metals in a mode in which they act as assisting the deposition process uses accelerated ions of the deposited metal.

Provides the introduction of dopants at the nanoscale atomic level into the near-surface layer of the substrate under nonequilibrium conditions of ion-beam treatment and the formation of catalytic layers up to 100 nm thick with strong adhesion and low (~ 0.01 mg / cm2) content of platinum and activating metals (Ir, Sn , Ce, Yb, etc.).

Benefits:

Manufacturability, resource saving and environmental safety of the process of manufacturing electrocataly
sts. The formation of the catalytic layer is carried out under vacuum conditions and, as a rule, in one technological step, which compares favorably with traditional multistage chemical methods for preparing catalysts based on the impregnation of the carrier with solutions of compounds of catalytic metals, their reduction to metal state, drying, etc., and can significantly reduce labor and energy consumption during the formation of the acti
ve surface. The content of platinum in the formed active layers is less than 0.05 mg / cm2, while in similar foreign electrocatalysts the content of catalytic metal is 1 -5 mg / cm2.
The activity of electrocatalysts in the electrolysis of aqueous solutions is comparable to that of platinum, and in the oxidation of organic fuels (methanol and ethanol), which underlie the principle of operation of low-temperature fuel cells, in dozens times the activity of the platinum electrode.

Achieved results: 

A laboratory technology for the formation of nanosized electrocatalysts based on carbon diffusion layers has been developed.

Experimental samples were made:

  • electrocatalysts based on diffusion layers of AVCarb® Carbon Fiber Paper P50 and Toray Carbon Fiber Paper TGP-H-060 T;
  • membrane-electrode blocks based on the resulting electrocatalysts and ion-exchange membrane DuPont ™ Nafion® N 115.