Catalyst Simulations Could Lower Fuel Cell Cost

Imagine a car, from the operation of solar energy and hydrogen to produce water, rather than carbon dioxide emissions. And as such vehicles will not be on the market quickly, the University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers are gradual, but significant advances in fuel cell technology can be the vehicle of its own realities.

Science and Engineering, Denmark, Morgan, an assistant professor and doctoral Edward (Ted) Holby have developed a computational model that cancamcorder batteries optimize the fuel cell, which allows wider use of this technology an important component. Basically, they study how the material related to the overall stability of particle size, their model shows an increase of the fuel cell catalyst particle size decreases, thereby increasing the degradation of a fuel cell life.

Fuel cell electrochemical device, to promote reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, to form water. Morgan fuel cell research fuel cell proton exchange membrane or proton exchange membrane fuel cell, hydrogen called into a proton and an electron on the fuel cell side (anode). Of protons through the device, but was forced to the outside of electronic circuits, traveling can do useful work initiatives. The fuel cell (cathode) and the other side, protons, electrons and oxygen combine to form water, which is the only waste generated.

Although it sounds very simple premise of obstacles, there is widespread use of fuel cells, efficient production of a few. One obstacle is the catalyst to facilitate between the protons, electrons and oxygen cathode reaction. The current fuel cells use platinum and platinum alloy catalyst. Although the platinum can withstand the corrosive fuel cell environment, it is expensive and not very rich.

In order to maximize the use of platinum, the researchers used the platinum catalyst particles as small as 2 nanometers, which is a diameter of about 10 atoms. These tiny structures have a large surface, which the fuel cell reaction. However, the small platinum catalyst degradation very quickly.

He said: "From the stability of nano-material of thinking is understandable cheese intuition," said Morgan. "When you leave a chunk of cheese to be Dell Latitude D800 battery， Dell Latitude D810 battery， Dell Latitude D820 batterycrispy edge, the surface is damaged, but you can cut, but also a lot of cheese which is good.

"But if you crumble the cheese into small pieces, so you have to destroy all of the cheese, because the larger part of the cheese surface."

The rapid degradation of the catalyst, the duration of the fuel cell is not long, and the U.S. Department of Energy believes that fuel cells will operate 5,000 hours, about 7 months of continuous use, practical solutions to energy vehicles.

Morgan and Holby, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Yang Shao-Horn of Africa, the collaboration, we have found a workable solution to the rapid deterioration of the problem: When it comes to the catalyst particles, sometimes smaller is not better.

Their modeling is performed by 3M Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy-funded shows that if a catalyst particle size, platinum and an increase of 4 or 5 nanometers, about 20 atoms in diameter degradation levels, significantly reduced. This  Dell Latitude D830 battery，Dell Latitude X1 battery，Dell XPS M1210 batterymeans that the catalyst and the entire fuel cell can continue to operate much longer if the particle size is two or three nano.

Fundamental physics research in particle size will expand its research scientists to explore a useful platinum, platinum alloy, which can reduce the platinum catalyst for fuel cell for consumption. Morgan is currently the research model to study the size of the stability of platinum alloy effects, such as copper and cobalt, platinum, platinum catalyst.

"Fuel cells are one of many energy technologies - solar power, batteries, etc. has great potential - to reduce our oil dependence and carbon dioxide emissions," said Morgan. "Computer simulation to learn about the development of energy technologies at the core of these new materials, a powerful tool."