Electrochemical Synthesis of a-Manganese Dioxide on Oxidized Carbon Felt for Enhanced Fuel Cell Catalysis

Gaia Refinery is a Canadian cleantech company focused on sustainable resource recovery and carbon management. Its core mission is to develop low-impact technologies for converting waste carbon streams into high-value products such as bio-carbon materials, fuels, and catalysts. In collaboration with Lambton College, Gaia Refinery is supporting this project to explore the development of low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts based on modified carbon felt for fuel cell applications.
One of the company’s current technical challenges is identifying scalable, eco-friendly materials and surface treatments that can enhance electrochemical reactivity without relying on precious metals. This project addresses that need by chemically oxidizing carbon felts and electrodepositing a-MnO2, a low-cost, earth-abundant catalyst, onto their surfaces.
The outcomes will support Gaia Refinery’s R&D objectives by generating technical data and scalable fabrication protocols for novel catalyst structures. Economically, this could reduce catalyst costs in fuel cell stacks and broaden their applications in clean energy technologies. Socially, the project contributes to Canada’s net-zero goals by advancing green alternatives to fossil-fuel-based energy systems. The project also helps build applied research capacity at Lambton College while training students in clean energy and materials innovation as identified in Mitacs – Umbrella Part 1 application section 2.1.1 and 2.1.2.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mohsen Sheikhzadeh

Student:

Partner:

Gaia Refinery

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Utilities

University:

Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology

Program: