Development of electrode catalysts supported on fine particles alternative to Pt

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26600093
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Thin film/Surface and interfacial physical properties
• Research Institution: Yokohama National University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Masatoshi 横浜国立大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90130400)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SEKIYA TAKAO 横浜国立大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (60211322) ; OHNO SHIN-YA 横浜国立大学, 工学研究院, 准教授 (00377095)
• Research Collaborator: IWATA HIROSHI 京浜ラムテック ; ISHII HIROKI 横浜国立大学, 工学府, 博士課程前期学生 ; KATO DAIKI 横浜国立大学, 工学府, 博士課程前期学生 ; FURUSAWA MASASHI 横浜国立大学, 理工学部, 学生
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 薄膜新材料 / Pt代替触媒 / 表面界面物性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A sputtering system specialized in thin film formation of catalysts alternative to Pt, such as ZrON and TaON, on fine particles of carbon was developed. ZrO2 and ZrON thin films were formed on fused quartz plates, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and photo-absorption spectroscopy. Oxygen reduction reaction starting potential was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. Some films are found to have high catalytic ability close to an ideal value.
If the technique for thin film formation directly on fine particles of carbon heated above 1100K is established, these alternative catalysts can be supported on practical membrane electrode assemblies, which will contribute to full-fledged popularization of polymer electrolyte fuel cell in instead of Pt.

Free Research Field

総合理工