A £1.1 million project aimed at creating new platinum based catalyst
layer designs for fuel cells has been awarded funding by the Technology Strategy
Board. Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd is leading the NECLASS project (Nano-Engineered
Catalyst Layers and Sub-Structures), and together with partners Qudos Technology
Ltd, Teer Coatings Ltd and Thomas
Swan + Co. Ltd, is developing novel micro-and nano-structured materials
to enable a significantly increased oxygen reduction mass activity of platinum
within the fuel cell catalyst layers. Effective use of the precious metal platinum
in the catalyst layers is one of the keys to unlocking the widespread commercialisation
of the more energy efficient fuel cell power generation technology.
Qudos Technology is investigating micro-scale templating of catalyst layers
and interfaces to increase the interfacial area and the access and egress of
the reactants and products to the active layer, whereas at the nano-scale Teer
Coatings is developing thin conformal Pt coatings onto carbon particulate and
fibre materials by physical vapour deposition. Thomas Swan is studying the surface
functionalisation of carbon nanotubes for application as the catalyst support
in the catalyst layer. Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells will integrate these complementary
developments into membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and test them in practical
fuel cells.
Thomas Swan is one of the largest family owned chemical companies in the UK.
It was founded by “Tommy Swan” in 1926 and has been managed by four
generations of the Swan family, and as such has been independent for over 80
years. Thomas Swan specialises in Performance and Speciality chemicals, has
a turnover of ~£17M with 120 employees and has offices in the UK, USA
and China. Between 2001 and 2004, in association with the University of Cambridge,
Thomas Swan developed a manufacturing process for single and multi-wall carbon
nanotubes. Further work with the University of Oxford focused on purification
and dispersion of the nanotubes, and the product was launched under the Elicarb®
brand name in April 2004. Thomas Swan’s role in the NECLASS project is
to design, manufacture, purify and functionalise an ideal and optimised carbon
nanotube for use as the catalyst support in fuel cells.
Posted March 9th, 2010
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