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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/G030146/1
Title CPLACES: Clusters of platinum and its alloys for fuel cell applications
Status Completed
Energy Categories Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells, Stationary applications) 50%;
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells, Mobile applications) 50%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr F Baletto
No email address given
Physics
King's College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 10 July 2009
End Date 31 August 2014
Duration 61 months
Total Grant Value £398,850
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region London
Programme Energy : Physical Sciences
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr F Baletto , Physics, King's College London (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental concerns demand efficient, pollution-free energy technologies. The key point is to develop highly efficient electrocatalytic devices, for example fuel cells, which directly convert chemical energy to direct-current electrical energy, without burning dirty fuels, such as oil or gasoline. However, practical energy and power densities and the cost of catalytic components of the electrochemical systems, i.e. platinum for fuel cell applications, limit their competitiveness relative to conventional technologies. The thermodynamics and kinetics of these electrochemical reactions are driven by the size, the geometrical structure and the chemical composition of the electrode material. Our growing ability to manipulate matter at a nanoscale regime, with complete control of the chemical composition, provides a new and unique opportunity to design materials with the desired catalytic properties. This project will discuss, using a computational approach, how the electronic, surface and crystal structures can be tailored to design and characterise better nanoalloy electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 04/12/08