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Nanotechnology theory guides synthesis of better catalysts for fuel cells

By Jim Lewis, on March 31st, 2008

By combining more precise core-shell nanoparticle synthesis techniques with electronic structure theory to predict the properties of nanoparticles, nanotechnology researchers have produced a better catalyst for fuel cells. From “‘Designer’ catalyst fights fuel cell poisoning“:

US scientists have designed from first principles nanoparticles that efficiently oxidise carbon monoxide (CO) — a contaminant commonly found in hydrogen used to run fuel cells.

A major problem facing fuel cells is that the hydrogen-rich materials feeding the reaction often contain CO, which is formed during hydrogen production. This CO ‘poisons’ the electrodes in the fuel-cell devices, deteriorating their efficiency.

Now, a team led by Bryan Eichhorn of the University of Maryland and Manos Mavrikakis of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have designed and made a catalyst for the preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO comprising a ruthenium (Ru) core inside a Platinum (Pt) shell…

The research was published in Nature Materials (abstract).
—Jim

March 31st, 2008 | Category: Computational nanotechnology, Energy, Nano, Nanoscale Bulk Technologies, Nanotech, Nanotechnology, Research

5 comments to Nanotechnology theory guides synthesis of better catalysts for fuel cells

  • Anonymous
    April 1st, 2008 at 8:50 AM

    Carbon dioxide is preferable to carbon monoxide as a pollutant. That really isn’t the issue. Carbon monoxide (and carbon dioxide, I think) can be a byproduct of hydrogen production, depending on the process. It’s a minor component of feedstock for fuel cells, but it can have a dramatic effect on their efficiency and lifetime. Hydrogen is best thought of like electricity – it’s not a primary energy source, it’s an energy transport mechanism. If these new fuel cells can run effectively on less pure hydrogen, it means that less energy has to be spent producing their fuel. So it’s better all around.

  • Anonymous
    April 1st, 2008 at 6:14 AM

    “If so, will this not diminish the apparent desireability of the whole enterprise?
    ”

    Which is? I thought is was to make fuel cells that work better. Who cares about carbon dioxide, except the global warming lunatics?

  • Jezebel
    March 31st, 2008 at 7:45 PM

    Even if true (about carbon dioxide), it would only operate on the trace emounts of CO in the hydrogen. So presumably the net carbon dioxide output would be neglible.

  • Jim Lewis
    March 31st, 2008 at 5:40 PM

    Yes, oxidizing carbon monoxide gives you carbon dioxide, but the issue here is that very small amounts of carbon monoxide can poison the catalysts, so the amount of carbon dioxide produced would also be very small compared to the amount of electricity the fuel cell produces from hydrogen.

  • KenB
    March 31st, 2008 at 4:28 PM

    I am certainly beyond the limits of what I truly understand, but if you oxidize carbon monoxide, do you not end up with carbion dioxide? If so, will this not diminish the apparent desireability of the whole enterprise?