VIETNAM STUDIES MATERIALS TO REPLACE PLATINUM CATALYSTS IN FUEL CELLS

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

VIETNAM STUDIES MATERIALS TO REPLACE PLATINUM CATALYSTS IN FUEL CELLS

14/02/2020

New material replaces 25% platinum in fuel cells, helping to reduce manufacturing costs, improve performance and increase fuel cell durability.

Conventional fuel cells usually have a composition that includes hydrogen gas, methanol, ethanol, an oxidant, and two electrodes made of conductive metals such as platinum and graphite. Among these components, the platinum (Pt) catalyst drives up fuel cell prices, while graphite has poor durability and is toxic.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, Head of Science, Technology and External Relations Department, University of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City has researched and developed a new multifunctional material in the form of Pt-Mo alloy nano on Ti0, 8W0, 2O2 nanomaterials to improve CO toxicity and reduce costs for fuel cells. .

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, Head of Science, Technology and External Relations Department, University of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City

This material is used to replace 25% of platinum. The actual test results show that the new material improves the alloy's performance compared to pure Pt, and improves the activity and operation time of the electrochemical Pt catalyst. Substituting fuel also reduces manufacturing costs, improves performance, and increases fuel cell durability.

As a result, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van has created a fuel cell that is 20% cheaper than a conventional battery. Previously, a fuel cell system cost about 300 million VND, now it is only 240 million VND.

The fuel cell project has been implemented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van since 2011 until now. Currently, the research project is in the laboratory stage, it is necessary to conduct an additional phase of transferring from the laboratory to pilot production. "The research team is trying to put the fuel cell project into practice as soon as possible, expected by the end of 2020 or at the latest in 2021," said the research team leader.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, in the coming time, she will continue to research and manufacture products for environmental treatment applications, semiconductor materials (SiC, GaN, TCO), electrochemistry, and nanotechnology, processing hydrogen from water and topics and projects applied to smart agriculture and sustainable development.

For her research on renewable energy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van won the third prize of the Ho Chi minh City Innovation Award in 2019 by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. She is also one of three outstanding young scientists honored by L'Oréal - UNESCO "For the development of women in science" in 2019.

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