EconCell | Aligned one-dimensional nanostructure electrodes from Electrically Conductive pOrous coordiNation polymer for proton exChange mEmbrane fueL celLs

Summary
To address environmental hazardous impact of fossil fuel energy technologies and the high dependency on them, clean energy systems have been developed for future energy fulfilment. Among them, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is considered as a highly potential electrochemical energy conversion technology because of its low operation temperature, quick start-up and shutdown, high energy efficiency and power flexibility. However, the sluggish cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) undermines the overall performance. Up to now, the commonly used catalysts are still carbon supported Pt-based nanoparticles, with which the high cost of Pt undesirably increases the overall cost of the system. In EconCell, we will develop a new generation of low-cost, active site enriched and durable PEMFC electrodes from three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures of non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) electrocatalysts. It consists of protic hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) encapsulated nanowire arrays (NWAs) of electronically conductive porous coordination polymer (E-PCP) selectively assembled on N-doped aligned carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). The ambitious aim will be achieved with the complementary skills of Experienced Researcher (E-PCPs and nanowires) and supervisors (fuel cells and ionic liquids), based on the unique porosity, conductivity and stability of E-PCPs, the excellent catalytic activities of nitrogen-containing (N) transition metal complexes (MCs), and oxyphilicity and hydrophobicity of ILs. EconCell will extend significantly the existing knowledge of coordinated N active sites, transition metals, ILs and 1D nanostructure electrodes, making available for predicting the catalytic performance of new non-PGM catalyst systems for PEMFCs. The advancement will improve the development level of related fields, bringing about both fundamental and practical impact on various electrochemical energy conversion systems, e.g. electrolyzers, batteries, supercapacitors, etc.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/898486
Start date: 01-09-2021
End date: 20-04-2024
Total budget - Public funding: 224 933,76 Euro - 224 933,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

To address environmental hazardous impact of fossil fuel energy technologies and the high dependency on them, clean energy systems have been developed for future energy fulfilment. Among them, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is considered as a highly potential electrochemical energy conversion technology because of its low operation temperature, quick start-up and shutdown, high energy efficiency and power flexibility. However, the sluggish cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) undermines the overall performance. Up to now, the commonly used catalysts are still carbon supported Pt-based nanoparticles, with which the high cost of Pt undesirably increases the overall cost of the system. In EconCell, we will develop a new generation of low-cost, active site enriched and durable PEMFC electrodes from three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures of non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) electrocatalysts. It consists of protic hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) encapsulated nanowire arrays (NWAs) of electronically conductive porous coordination polymer (E-PCP) selectively assembled on N-doped aligned carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). The ambitious aim will be achieved with the complementary skills of Experienced Researcher (E-PCPs and nanowires) and supervisors (fuel cells and ionic liquids), based on the unique porosity, conductivity and stability of E-PCPs, the excellent catalytic activities of nitrogen-containing (N) transition metal complexes (MCs), and oxyphilicity and hydrophobicity of ILs. EconCell will extend significantly the existing knowledge of coordinated N active sites, transition metals, ILs and 1D nanostructure electrodes, making available for predicting the catalytic performance of new non-PGM catalyst systems for PEMFCs. The advancement will improve the development level of related fields, bringing about both fundamental and practical impact on various electrochemical energy conversion systems, e.g. electrolyzers, batteries, supercapacitors, etc.

Status

TERMINATED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2019

Update Date

28-04-2024
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EU-Programme-Call
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
MSCA-IF-2019