Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N162-107

Description

To address the Navys need for a non-noble metal proton exchange membrane based electrocatalysts and engineered nanostructure for improved oxygen generator for submarines, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Cobalt Oxide (Co4O4) Nanocubane-based Oxygen Generator (CONOG) system. The proposed oxygen generator system is based on a novel design that utilizes electrospun Nafion nanofibers as the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). In CONOG system, Co4O4 nanocubanes are used as efficient oxygen evolution catalysts. As a result, the proposed approach offers high proton conductivity at the pores of the Nafion nanofibers. Particularly, utilization of cobalt oxide nanomaterials as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, enables the system to improve oxygen generation and significantly reduce costs. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the CONOG system by fabricating a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) structure incorporated with cobalt oxide nanocubanes as catalysts for the water oxidation process. In Phase II, POC plans to build a prototype 4-cell stack incorporating improved electrocatalysts and novel MEA structures capable of operating at equivalent current density of 1000 ASF and at an equivalent oxygen generation rate of 225 SCFH.