Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Cost and durability are two major roadblocks that have to be overcome before proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system can become economically viable. Current PEMFC technology still suffers from low platinum utilization, limited mass transport capability, and poor electrochemical stability of the carbon black-based support in the electrode structure. Therefore, novel electrode design, and development of a low cost and stable catalyst support to replace existing carbon support within membrane electrode assembly (MEA), will provide us the means to reduce the cost and performance gaps towards commercial viability. The objectives of the project are to apply a class of novel nanomaterials with special properties (high stability and electrical conductivity) to address significant challenges of high cost and low stability in fuel cells through a collaborative research between the applicants at The University of Western Ontario (UWO) and General Motors Canada Ltd (GM). The proposed research project is associated with fabrication and characterization of metal silicide nanowire supports, noble metal nanoparticles and their composites to obtain significantly improved properties and performance of the nanomaterials used in fuel cells for automotive applications. An important technical feature is to synthesize and use special low-dimensional nanomaterials based on metal silicide nanowires (e.g. TiSi2, TaSi2 and WSi2) with excellent thermal stability and corrosion resistance as well as extremely high electrical conductivity for use as catalyst supports. This innovative research project will take full advantage of the applicants' expertise in nanotechnology for clean energy. It is expected that the developed techniques could significantly lower cost and improve stability of fuel cells and could be transferred to GM's fuel cell products. GM and Dr. Sun at UWO will collaboratively approach these challenges through the creative and innovative applications of new nanomaterials. The successful completion of the proposed project will be of benefit to Canadian industry, UWO, and to the nanotechnology community by accelerating the fuel cell commercialization process and directly reducing environmental pollution.