46th CEMS Colloquium

講演者

山口猛央 (東京工業大学教授)

日程

2017年1月25日(水) 17:30～18:30

開催場所

理化学研究所　大河内記念ホール

講演タイトル

燃料電池技術のためのシステム的な材料設計

講演概要

In the current state-of-the-art technology, the conversion efficiency of fossil fuels to work remains lower; while polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) represent a superior system that exhibits portability and high-efficiency, offering better power generation, meeting the desired levels of demand. However, in order to facilitate widespread use of fuel cells, cost and lifetime problems must be resolved. Solid alkaline fuel cells (SAFCs) are another system that holds the potential to achieve high-energy conversion efficiency without Pt catalysts. Although most of metal catalysts can be used under alkaline environment, development of durable electrolyte membranes in alkaline media is the key for this technology. We are systematically designing and developing new materials from the molecular level to the device level. In the fuel cell systems, different components such as membrane, catalysts, and catalyst layer share significant functions and work in a well-coordinated manner, and hence, the total cell system must be optimized for the best performance. The systematic design and developing approaches concerning PEFCs and SAFCs are proposing. Specifically, porous Pt alloy capsules for carbon free catalysts and durable anion-exchange membranes are developed based on the approach.