Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia

Project type:

Basic Research

Duration

2011- 2014

Project Coordinator:

Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade

Participants:

• Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
• Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade
• Institute of Technical Sciences Serbian Academy of Sciences and Art
• Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
• Vinča Institute of Nuclear Science, , University of Belgrade

Project Manager:

Nedeljko Krstajić, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade

Number of Researchers:

11

Aim and Scope:

Fuel cell technology offers an attractive combination of highly efficient fuel utilisation and environmentally – friendly operations. The ideal fuel for optimum fuel cell operation is hydrogen, although small organic molecules can be used as a fuel for a fuel cell system. In low temperature fuel cells, (such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, PEMFCs), in order to obtain sufficient electrical output, platinum-based catalysts must be used. However, further decrease of the amount of platinum-based catalysts and the increase of durability of PEMFCs have been recognized as the most important subjects to be overcome, before commercialization of the PEMFCs. Hydrogen production as a fuel is crucial for the development of the entire sector, and new “CO2 free” production from renewable and nuclear power is increasingly important. The key research issues of the proposed project are: 1) development and characterisation of new interactive supports with improved durability for fuel cell, such as some conductive forms of TiO2 (Nb doped TiO2 and nanostructured forms of TiO2), and nonstoichiometric tungsten and molybdenum oxides (WOx and MoOx) which exhibit proton transfer capability and oxophilic nature, the desired characteristics for methanol oxidation and hydrogen oxidation in the presence CO; 2) development of nanosized platinum and non-platinum catalysts for the oxygen reduction and hydrogen and methanol oxidation in acidic and alkaline solutions; 3) development of non-noble composite electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline membrane water electrolysis.

Major Results:

The proposed project implies the development of advanced types of interactive supports for low-temperature fuel cells with the following expected characteristics: 1. high specific surface area, to attain high catalyst dispersion; 2. suitable porosity, to boost gas flow; 3. high electrical conductivity at room temperature; 4. high stability under fuel cell conditions; 5. co-catalyst behaviour. Supports with mentioned characteristics would enable further decrease in the amount of platinum-based catalysts and the increase in durability of PEMFCs.

Publications:

1. N.R. Elezovic, B.M. Babic, P. Ercius, V.R. Radmilovic, Lj.M. Vracar, N.V., "Synthesis and characterization Pt nanocatalysts on tungsten based supports for oxygen reduction reaction", Appl. Catal. B-Environ., (2012) doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2012.06.008.
2. U.Č. Lačnjevac, B.M. Jović, V.D. Jović, N.V. Krstajić, "Determination of kinetic parameters for the hydrogen evolution reaction on the electrodeposited Ni–MoO2 composite coating in alkaline solution", J. Electroanal. Chem., 677–680 (2012) 31-40.
3. M. D. Obradović, B. M. Babić, V. R. Radmilović, N. V. Krstajić, S. Lj. Gojković, "Core-shell structured tungsten-tungsten carbide as a Pt catalyst support and its activity for methanol electrooxidation", Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., 37 (2012) 10671-10679.
4. N.R. Elezović, B.M. Babić, Lj. Gajić- Krstajić, P. Ercius, V.R. Radmilović, N.V. Krstajić, Lj.M. Vračar, "Pt supported on nano-tungsten carbide as a beneficial catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solution", Electrochim. Acta, 69, (2012) 239-246.
5. M. D. Obradović, S. Lj. Gojković, N. R. Elezović P. Ercius, V. R. Radmilović, Lj. D. Vračar, N. V. Krstajić, "The Kinetics of the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction on WC/Pt catalyst with low content of Pt nano-particles", J. Electroanal. Chem., 671 (2012) 24-32.
6. V.D. Jović, U. Lačnjevac, B.M. Jović, N.V. Krstajić, "Service life test of non-noble metal composite cathodes for hydrogen evolution in sodium hydroxide solution", Electrochim. Acta, 63 (2012) 124-130.
7. M. D. Obradović, S. Lj. Gojković, "Electrochemical instability of Pt nanoparticles probed by formic acid oxidation ", J. Electroanal. Chem., 664 (2012) 152-155.
8. M. D. Obradović, J. R. Rogan, B. M. Babić, A. V. Tripković, A. R. Gautam, V. R. Radmilović, S. Lj. Gojković, "Formic acid oxidation on Pt-Au nanoparticles: relation between the catalyst activity and the poisoning rate", J. Power Sources., 197 (2012) 72-79.
9. G. D. Vuković, M. D. Obradović, A. D. Marinković, J. R. Rogan, P. S. Uskoković, V. R. Radmilović, S. Lj. Gojković, "Ethylenediamine-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes as a Pt catalyst support", Mater. Chem. Phys., 130 (2011) 657-664.
10. N.R. Elezovic, B.M. Babic, V.R. Radmilovic, Lj.M. Vracar, N.V. Krstajic, "Nb–TiO2 supported platinum nanocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solutions", Electrochim. Acta, 56 (2011) 9020-9026.
11. N.V. Krstajić, U. Lačnjevac, B.M. Jović, S. Mora, V.D. Jović, "Non-noble metal composite cathodes for hydrogen evolution. Part II: The Ni–MoO2 coatings electrodeposited from nickel chloride–ammonium chloride bath containing MoO2 powder particles", Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., 36 (2011) 6450-6461.
12. N.V. Krstajić, Lj. Gajić- Krstajić, U. Lačnjevac, B.M. Jović, S. Mora, V.D. Jović, "Non-noble metal composite cathodes for hydrogen evolution. Part I: The Ni–MoOx coatings electrodeposited from Watt’s type bath containing MoO3 powder particles", Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., 36 (2011) 6441-6449.

Contacts:

nedeljko@tmf.bg.ac.rs