Tailored oxide nanomaterials for regenerative fuel cells (NANO-MORF).

Unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) are currently attracting an increased attention as an emergingtechnology for storage and conversion of surplus electricity produced from renewable energy sources (solar,wind). In this context the challenge is to develop active, stable, and inexpensive electrocatalytic materials forthe electrodes of URFCs. The objective of the project proposal is the design of advanced noble metal-freetransition metal nano-oxides for the oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkalinemedia in view of their application in URFCs. In order to achieve this goal we assemble an internationalinterdisciplinary team and combine advanced characterization tools, synthesis, electrochemical methods,kinetic modeling, quantum and computational chemistry. The Russian team combines three groups workingtogether for a long time. The Kazan group will use quantum chemical methods to predict catalytically activecenters, and to calculate electron transfer rates. Using this information as an input, Moscow group willsynthesize 3d-metal (Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) simple and complex nano-oxides and hydroxides by chemicalmethods. To better understand the role of defects, the Novosibirsk group will prepare long-lived metastableoxide nanostructures by electrodeposition. The Belgian partner will apply advanced transmission electronmicroscopy methods in order to access detailed information on the structure, chemical composition, cationdistribution and coordination of the oxide nanoparticles in 2D and 3D. The French partner will investigate theelectrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of the oxide nanoparticles, and develop kinetic modelsallowing to retrieve kinetic rate constants and adsorbate coverages, and provide feedback for furtherimprovement of quantum chemical models. Achieving a molecular level understanding will allow us to designadvanced oxide nanomaterials with high catalytic activities both in the ORR and OER.

Keywords:PHYSICS

Disciplines:Classical physics, Elementary particle and high energy physics, Other physical sciences