Stéphane DANIELE Lab CP2M
Among the many motorization technologies available to meet the requirements of sustainable mobility (related to the Carnot alliance), low-temperature fuel cells (PEMFC, AEMFC) are electrochemical converters that are particularly well suited to the needs of customers who are looking for long autonomy, fast charging and no greenhouse gas emissions. Ideally used in heavy transport applications (trucks, trains), the adoption of this technology on a large scale is hampered by its cost, its low efficiency and its durability still far from the 20,000 hours required. These major obstacles are strongly related to the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode (ORR) which has slow kinetics and therefore requires a larger mass of noble metal catalyst than at the anode. The low solubility of O2, the hydrophobicity of the cathode to evacuate the produced water and the dissolution of the catalyst are at the origin of the reduced life span of these batteries.
To overcome these drawbacks, the COLORR project proposes a technological breakthrough by engineering the catalyst-electrolyte interface along two axes: optimization of the electrochemical properties of the electrolyte and innovative design of the cathode. The CP2M will develop electrolytes based on Ionic Liquids (ILs) based on specifications in terms of increased O2 solubility, significant hydrophobicity to evacuate the water produced while being a source of protons. The IEM will develop bimetallic catalysts (PdM, M = Fe, Mn, Ni) with a reduced content of noble metals associated with an optimization of the surface state (nano-structuration). The objective will concern in fine the assembly of a IL-PdM system for the elaboration of powerful cathodes for the ORR and their integration within a single cell. The results obtained will allow technological advances compatible with other promising systems such as metal-air batteries.
CCI LYON, VIBRATECH, THALES, AREVA, VOLVO, RENAULT, MICHELIN, ANNEALSYS, HUTCHINSON, EDF R&D ENERBAT, riber, SKF, EDF, PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN, SAFRAN, CARA, ST MICROELECTRONICS, SEB, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, ...