Dr. Mingchuan Luo [School of Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology]

Title: Electrocatalytic reactions in fuel cells: study of mechanism and low-platinum catalysts

Time: 11:00 - 12:00 PM, Thursday, May 12, 2016

Place: Conference room C206, HPSTAR (Beijing)

Host: Dr. Huiyang Gou

Abstract:

To address the worldwide problems of energy shortage and environmental pollution caused by our reliance on fossil fuels, it is imperative to commit to clean energy innovation. Over decades, hydrogen powered polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (H-PEMFC) was considered as an ideal alternative power device to traditional internal combustion engine for automobile application, due to its high electric power density, high energy conversion efficiency, low environmental impact as well as low temperature for start-up and operation. To maintain high energy efficiency, the H-PEMFC requires a high loading of precious metal platinum (Pt) as the electrocatalysts. However, the high cost and low annual production of Pt has greatly hindered the commercialization of this technology, which greatly promotes the electrocatalysis related to fuel cells. In this talk, we firstly show our theoretical efforts on finding the key physical descriptor for electrocatalytic reactions related to fuel cells. Then, with the insights from the theoretical studies, novel electrocatalytic nanomaterials with high activity and low cost were designed and subsequently synthesized. Finally, we propose a facile synthetic route for low-Pt catalysts in large scale. Our study provides both theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the fundamental electrochemistry, and pushed forwards the application of low-Pt catalysts into practical fuel cells.

References:

1.Mingchuan Luo et al, Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 270: 34.

2.Hong Zhu*, Mingchuan Luo et al, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38: 3323.

3.Mingchuan Luo et al, Hydrogen evolution reaction on gold electrodes: particle size effect, Electrochemistry Communications, under review.

4.Mingchuan Luo et al, Core-shell structured electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, under review. (Invited)

Biography of the Speaker:

Mingchuan Luo received his B.S. in Applied Chemistry from Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) in 2009. He began the Ph.D. study in 2010 also at BUCT under the supervision by Prof. Hong Zhu. From 2014 to 2015, he was visiting University of Delaware in America as an exchange student sponsored by the CSC. His studies focus on the fundamental electrochemistry related to fuel cells and the development of novel functional materials for the electrocatalysis. His work highlights the significance of solution pH for designing electrocatalysts under different application conditions.