Nathan Coutard
Optimization and integration of bio-inspired anodes in a platinum-free fuel cell
Published on 28 September 2018
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Thesis presented September 28, 2018
Abstract:
The use of new energy vectors as alternatives to the fossil and nuclear fuels is necessary for the transition to renewable energies. These intermittent energy sources can be stored in fuels, such as hydrogen gas which stands out for its energy density and participation in the virtuous water splitting cycle. Controlled H2 oxidation can be done in so-called fuel cells, which oxidize hydrogen at the anode and reduce oxygen at the cathode to produce electrical power, with water and heat as the sole by-products of the reaction. Those mature technologies employ platinum group metals as catalysts at both the anode and cathode. However, as worldwide energy demands keep increasing, these limited resources will not be sufficient for a worldwide adoption of H2 as an energy vector. In this work, materials containing noble metal free, bio inspired catalysts for H2 oxidation are optimized and integrated in functional fuel cells. Their behavior in technologically-relevant conditions is studied and compared to that of state of the art platinum catalysts. The best performing materials are thoroughly characterized with various advanced electrochemistry techniques, yielding leads for further optimization as well as insight on the benchmarking of novel catalytic materials.
Keywords:
Bio-inspired chemistry, electrochemistry
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