Developing Next Generation Direct Fuel Cell Systems using Liquid Fuels for Building and Automotive Applications.
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
This multidisciplinary project aims to develop a new generation of high performance, low cost, user friendly, low and intermediate temperatures direct fuel cells, utilizing alternative high energy density liquid fuels including biofuels such as ethanol, glycerol and butanol. Cutting edge highly active, cost effective core-shell nanocatalysts will be employed in the single fuel cell in-situ screening; then the selected catalysts will be scaled up and applied to the sophisticated cell stacks development, which requires novel multi-scale engineering innovation. The short cell stacks will be developed and tested under various conditions relevant to target applications, with respect to the combined heat and power for building and transportation sectors.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509516/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2021 | |||
| 1807254 | Studentship | EP/N509516/1 | 30/09/2016 | 30/03/2020 | Daniel Gayton |
| Description | I have developed nano-particle based palladium catalysts which can be successfully deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode for the electro-oxidation of various alcohols (methanol, ethanol, butanol, glycerol and ethylene glycol). By using nano-particle palladium instead of pure palladium metal not only reduces the cost but also allows for better catalytic activity. The catalyst shows a wide variety of behaviors depending on the alcohol and co-catalyst it is interacting with these include antimony, poly-aniline and copper. One of the most interesting things is that when doped with copper, palladium shows a significant improvement for its activity in methanol. This is due to the carbon monoxide poising effect reduced by the presence of copper. I intend to test this further in the heavier alcohols to see if the effect is similar as this award continues. Although the award is still on going, I have so far managed to achieve a high performing palladium based catalyst that could hopefully replace the rarer and more expensive platinum based catalysts that are currently in use. What I still need to do is make a catalyst that maintains a high level of stability in the heavier alcohols such as butanol and ethylene glycol as they seem to be harder to achieve. |
| Exploitation Route | This research could be taken forward by applying the catalyst's made to large scale fuel cells to test if they can generate enough power to create higher levels of power that could be used in automobiles. The main issue with alcohol fuel cells in their current is that they so far produce small amount of power over a long period of time which is not suitable for automotive applications. Hopefully the catalysts I have and will continue to produce throughout this award will be able to produce a higher energy output that could be viable for automotive applications which could petrol and also the gaseous hydrogen as alcohols are much cheaper and easier to store than hydrogen. |
| Sectors | Electronics Energy |