Description:
Fuel
cells convert fuel, like hydrogen or methanol, into electrical current to
provide power for various applications. There are many types of fuel cells,
which vary by material, fuels, and byproducts produced. For example, a hydrogen
fuel cell uses a catalytic surface to electrochemically oxidize a fuel to
liberate a proton (H+) and capture the corresponding electrons for electricity.
Platinum is used at the cathode to reduce oxygen. In the case of hydrogen-based
fuel cells, only water is generated as a byproduct, which provides a more
environmentally friendly alternative to conventional power sources like internal
combustion engines. Platinum has a high catalytic activity but, as a precious
metal, it is very expensive. Platinum is the
primary contribution to the high cost of fuel cells compared to batteries and
internal combustion engines.
Michigan
State University’s invention is a process for making a non-precious metal
catalyst with high activity. The key ingredients in the process are: (1) a
pyrolysis step that takes place at high pressure in order to create high
precursor activity that leads to high catalytic site density; and (2) a
pyridinic nitrogen precursor that leads to pyridinic nitrogen sites that are
considered ideal for catalysis. The invention identifies a material system and
chemical synthesis with experimentally determined, optimal parameters to achieve
an effective catalyst surface area and reduction current at a low
temperature.
Benefits
* Lower cost: For selected
applications where a lower activity can be tolerated, the process would replace
platinum with non-precious metals bound to nitrogenous graphitic
material.
* Scalable synthesis: The invention
uses a convenient, high pressure, pyrolysis method and the proportions of
precursors are potentially customizable to attain different levels of catalytic
activity and longevity.
* Environmentally friendly:
Hydrogen-based fuel cells produce only water as a byproduct.
Applications
* Fuel
cells offer higher energy density than batteries, enabling new electronic
devices.
Fuel
cells can be used, for example, in portable applications, combined heat and
power generation, or backup power systems.
* Once
less expensive catalysts are identified and production scaled, fuel cells are
expected to largely compete with traditional energy sources in four domains:
handheld electronic devices, portable generators, stationary fuel cells, and
road transportation.
* Other
potential markets include backup power for telecommunications devices, materials
handling, forklifts trucks, mobile electronic devices for remote regions, and
military.
IP Protection
Status
Patent
pending
