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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R50639/01
Title: Combinational Screening and Characterisation of Platinum Based PEM Fuel Cell Catalysts
Principal Investigator: Hayden, Professor BE
Other Investigators:
Owen, Emeritus Professor J Russell, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Johnson Matthey
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 25 February 2002 Ends: 24 February 2005 Value (£): 197,820
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Electrochemical Science & Eng.
Fuel Cell Technologies
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Electronics
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Electrode arrays of supported ternary alloy electro-catalysts will be synthesised to produce combinatorial libraries using the thin film methods of MBE and LPCVD. Arrays will be based on microfabricated electrode structures and reactors on silicon wafers. The variables under combinatorial control during catalys synthesis will be the alloy composition, the particle size and morphology, the support, and the catalyst loading. Two parallel electrochemical screening techniqi will be developed, one based on an optically sensitive counter electrode for general screening, and the second based on multichannel potentiostatic measurements. These will be applied to the rapid screening of the catalyst arrays. The reactions under investigation will be the oxidation of methanol and other small organic molecules, the oxidation of hydrogen under conditions requiring CO and C02 tolerance, and oxygen reduction. The alloy arrays will be platinum based, and the supports will be amorphous carbon and reduced titania. Arrays will be characterised using bulk chemical and structural techniques including SE and XRD. A more restricted surface characterisation of particularly active array elements using XPS and LEIS will also be carried out. The screening of the arrays will lead to the identification of the optimum catalyst structures for the reactions within the compositional and morphological space covered. The results should also allow an informed choice to be made of alternative components to ternary alloy arrays which may yield alive catalysts.
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Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk