Pajarito Powder, LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 15c

Description

Fuel cells are a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize power generation for both the transportation and power generation industries. A primary issue currently preventing the adoption of fuel cells is that current platinum based catalysts require high amounts of expensive platinum in order to meet designed performance requirements. In this project, Pajarito Powder in collaboration with Advent technologies will develop and validate Pajarito's Durable Engineered Carbon Supports (DACSs). The DACs are heavily modified Precious-Metal Free catalysts that because of their inherent activity reduce the amount of platinum needed, as well stabilize PGM nanoparticles under conditions which cause PGM dissolution and resist corrosion. The fuel cell catalysts built on DACSs materials will therefore need lower PGM amount than needed today to achieve the performance levels required for fuel cells. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Durable Engineered Carbon Supports will contribute to the longevity of the fuel cell stack, improving the ROI for fuel cell systems. The economic benefits of greater durability, along with decreased PGM requirements are immediately obvious, reducing both the total cost of ownership and mitigating dependence on commodity metals. Both the transportation and power generation industries are highly sensitized to reliance upon materials subject to market fluctuations; reducing negative financial exposure increase the economic viability of fuel cell adoption. Greater fuel cell adoption will in turn further the DOE mission to provide efficient, clean, reliable energy that can be produced domestically in an environmentally responsibly fashion.