Realistic Degradation Studies of Platinum-Rare Earth Alloy Fuel Cell Catalysts using Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

This proposed project will investigate the failure modes of platinum-rare earth element alloy catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells. These alloys are the current state-of-the-art catalysts in terms of durability for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), yet due to their recent discovery are lacking important studies to understand their degradation under working conditions. These types of studies are required to understand their failure modes, which will inspire intelligent catalyst design in the future and push forward the field of PEMFCs. The proposed failure analysis studies will be done in collaboration with Dr. Michael Günthel at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE) in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. The Fraunhofer ISE has state-of-the-art materials characterization instrumentation, including a near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron Spectrometer (NAP-XPS) which will be key to conducting the proposed failure analysis studies. NAP-XPS will allow us to investigate the platinum-rare earth alloy catalysts under near working conditions, as the unique XPS system allows for the study of catalyst surfaces under gases such as hydrogen and oxygen. The usage of these gases allows us to create simulated operational conditions, during which we can observe and characterize the surface species forming while the catalyst degrades.

Faculty Supervisor:

Heather Buckley

Student:

Partner:

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Clean Technology; Nanotechnology; Green/Alternative Energy

University:

University of Victoria

Program: