Fuel cells: contributions to the development of catalysts and to the understanding of scaling up problems

• Grant number: 10/20045-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Joelma Perez
• Grantee: Joelma Perez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Valdecir Antonio Paganin

Abstract

The objective of this research is the development of methodologies for the preparation of nanoparticles; the establishment of correlations between the properties of the systems (particle size distribution, chemical composition, etc.) and the variables of the synthesis methodologies; and the development of materials to be used as catalysts for the reactions that take place on the anode or cathode of the fuel cell. Moreover, establishing the correlations between the physicochemical properties of the materials prepared and the electrocatalytic processes allows a better understanding of the characteristics that control the efficiency in operational conditions, which can assist future strategies for the development of catalysts.In the field of practical application, this research has as objective the scaling-up of PEMFC (Proton exchange membrane fuel cells) in order to gain knowledge, step by step, to further control the desired properties in a system operating in the new scale. PEMFC have several problems regarding the not uniform current distribution on the single cell, which is caused by different factors. As a result, a decreased efficiency is expected. Systems for the measurement of the current distribution in gas diffusion electrodes (cathode and anode) will be developed for single cells of several size scales. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PIRES, FELIPE I.; CORRADINI, PATRICIA G.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; ANTOLINI, ERMETE; PEREZ, JOELMA. Effect of the degree of alloying of PtRu/C (1:1) catalysts on ethanol oxidation. IONICS, v. 19, n. 7, p. 1037-1045, JUL 2013. (10/20045-0)

ANTOLINI, ERMETE; PEREZ, JOELMA. The use of rare earth-based materials in low-temperature fuel cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, v. 36, n. 24, p. 15752-15765, DEC 2011. (10/20045-0)

CORRADINI, PATRICIA GON; ANTOLINI, ERMETE; PEREZ, JOELMA. Structural and electrochemical characterization of carbon supported Pt-Pr catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells prepared using a modified formic acid method in a CO atmosphere. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, v. 15, n. 28, p. 11730-11739, 2013. (10/20045-0)

CORRADINI, PATRICIA GON; PIRES, FELIPE I.; PAGANIN, VALDECIR A.; PEREZ, JOELMA; ANTOLINI, ERMETE. Effect of the relationship between particle size, inter-particle distance, and metal loading of carbon supported fuel cell catalysts on their catalytic activity. JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH, v. 14, n. 9, SEP 2012. (10/20045-0)

CORRADINI, PATRICIA G.; ANTOLINI, ERMETE; PEREZ, JOELMA. Activity, short-term stability (poisoning tolerance) and durability of carbon supported Pt-Pr catalysts for ethanol oxidation. Journal of Power Sources, v. 251, p. 402-410, APR 1 2014. (12/12189-8, 10/20045-0)