Acronimo: Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Titolo: Novel Multilayered and Micro-Machined Electrode Nano-Architectures for Electrocatalytic Applications
Responsabile scientifico: Prof. Paolo SGARBOSSA - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale -Università degli Studi di PADOVA
Coordinatore: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Bando: Prin 2017- Decreto Direttoriale n. 3728 del 27 dicembre2017
Durata: 05/05/2019 - 05/05/2022 (36 mesi)
Budget totale progetto: € 852.840,00
Partern-Unità di ricerca: Università degli Studi di ROMA "La Sapienza" - Università degli Studi di FIRENZE, Università degli Studi di MILANO, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale- Università degli Studi di PADOVA

Abstract del progetto

This project aims to introduce unprecedented electrochemical technology combining fundamental knowledge and technical expertise of nanoscale electrocatalytic structures applied to micro machined electrodes. It seeks to demonstrate performance far beyond the state of the art in technologies such as fuel cells and electrolyzers for H2 production. The knowledge and control/synthesis of nanoscale catalyst structures developed by this project will produce a new class of electrocatalytic materials with better activity, stability and selectivity that will ultimately replace traditional materials of the state of the art. Multi-layered electrodes based upon thin layers of supported active metals on metal oxide promoters will be fabricated at the nanoscale. Their study will gain a complete understanding of the structure-activity relationships through state of art electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Finally, the optimized metal-metal oxide nanostructures will be fabricated using micro machining techniques and tested in complete electrolysis or fuel cells. The innovative technology of this project will lead to a change in the thinking of how electrocatalysis can be developed at the nano scale. The possibility to control interfaces and active structure geometry with nanometer accuracy by creating regular patterns with narrow size distribution will improve the fundamental understanding of how electrocatalysts and sensors work. The realization of the hydrogen economy as alternative to our society's current dependence on fossil fuels will have a huge impact on the future of modern society. Although this project does not seek to achieve such an ambitious objective, its goals will help to provide concrete technological strategies that will help future energy research in a worldwide context.