Research Projects & Group

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The fuel cell, be it a low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), is gaining extraordinary attention by the automotive and propulsion industries, oil and gas companies, and power suppliers. The need for an alternative power source, such as the fuel cell, is desperate not because of the depletion of fossil fuels within scientist's estimation of the next few decades, but more on the progressively increase in the cost of the fossil fuels and their local and global impacts on the environment. The disruption of ocean-atmosphere equilibrium, due to environmental pollution associated with the use of fossil fuels, causes intolerable climatic change. If one can still recall the Kyoto conference in December 1997 that highlighted the disparate energy usage needs and aspirations of many countries, he/she would have no question on the imperative for clean and efficient use of energy within all countries. It is also recognised, in both established and fast growing economies, that the legitimate desire to maintain or improve the quality of life should be consistent with the responsible use of energy. Responsible usage of energy corresponds to efficient use of energy and minimum impact to the global environment. To meet the requirements of Kyoto Protocol, the fuel cell as an emerging technology has been considered to be a potential candidate to moderate the fast increase in power requirements and the impact of the power source on the environment.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) operate at high temperature and practically can be fed by different types of fuel to generate the electricity. SOFC will help to mitigate the reliance on fossil fuels, reduce emissions, lower energy costs for manufacturing processes and producing fresh water in the desalination plants, and ensure reliable power supply to high-tech industries, bio-medical centres and hospitals. While SOFC is the cleanest, most efficient and versatile technology for chemical-to-electrical energy conversion, key technical challenges remain, including the performance enhancement and dramatic cost reduction. The best approach to enhance the performance and long-term stability and to significantly reduce the overall cost of SOFC technology is to reduce the operation temperature of SOFC from traditional 1000oC to 600-800oC and to use natural gas (NG) or liquid HC directly as the fuel rather than pure hydrogen. Reduced SOFC operating temperature can significantly decrease the material thermal degradation and the cost due to the wide selection and use of cheap materials such as metallic interconnect. The direct use of NG or liquid HC as fuel also eliminates the cost associated with the production, storage and transportation associated with pure hydrogen. However, decreasing SOFC operating temperature will increase the polarisation losses and cell resistance. Thus, one of the key areas in the development of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFCs) is the development of high performance and nano-structured cathodes and carbon-deposition resistance anodes. Fundamental understanding of the electrode process at low temperature SOFCs is critical for the development and technological viability of ITSOFCs.

Another important area in fuel cells research is the polymer electrolyte and direct methanol fuel cells (PEFCs & DMFCs). The advantages of PEFCs & DMFCs are the high efficiency and power output, ambient operating temperature, and very low greenhouse gas emission. There are intensive R&D activities in US, Europe, Japan and China in the race to develop and commercialise PEFCs & DMFCs technologies for stationary, transportation and portable power supply applications ranging from remote power supply, laptops to handphones. My focus at the moment is to develop DMFCs based on a novel layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique using polyelectrolytes such as poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDDA, and poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), PSS. The project involves the synthesis of polymer stabilized Pt and Pt alloy nanoparticles by alcohol reduction and the characterization of the electrocatalytic activities of the polyelectrolyte-stabilized Pt and Pt alloy nanoparticles. The electrochemically active interface of Pt alloy electrocatalysts such as Pt-Ru, Pt-Sn, Pt-Cr-Co, etc by the multiple and selective self-assembly processes for the methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions is also investigated. The final goal is to demonstrate DMFCs with high performance and good stability based on the polyelectrolyte modified membrane and novel polyelectrolyte-platinum alloy catalysts.

Funded projects:

  1. Project Tube. Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA POD0814009), 06 June 2008 – 05 June 2010
  2. Development of natural gas fuel based solid oxide fuel cells. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) SERC 042 101 0081, 07 January 2006 – 06 January 2008
  3. Development of direct methanol fuel cells by novel self-assembly techniques. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) SERC 052 101 0035, 01 January 2006 – 31 December 2008
  4. Development of micro tubular solid oxide fuel cells. MINDEF-NTU JOINT APPLIED R&D COOPERATION PROGRAMME (MINDEF-NTU-JPP/07/08), 27 November 2007 – 26 November 2008
  5. Development of carbon- and sulfur-tolerant anodes of solid oxide fuel cells. US AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (AFRL, AOARD-07-4089), 01 September 2007 – 31 August 2009
  6. Development of novel electrocatalyst systems for direct ethanol fuel cells. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) SERC 072 134 0054, 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2011
  7. Apatite-based electrolytes for low to intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. Ministry of Education (AcRF Tie 2, ARC 2/08), 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2011

Visitors/Collaborations:

1.  Prof Shen Peikang, Sun Yat-Sen University, China (April 2007)

2.  Prof Zhang Yujun, Shandong University, China (December 2006)

3.  Prof Meilin Liu, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

4.  Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Singapore

5.  Institute of Chemical and Engineering Science (ICES), Singapore

6.  Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Singapore

7.  Prof. Pan Mu, Wuhan University of Technology, China (2003)

8.  Prof. Li Jian, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China (December 2007)

9.  Prof Wei Zidong, Chongqing University, China (2004)

10.Sichuan University, China

11.Prof John Irvine, University of St Andrews, UK (September 2006)

12.Prof Pawel Kulesza, Warsaw University, Poland (May 2007)

13.Prof Xiang Yan, Beihong University, China (February 2008)

14.Prof Andrzej Wieckowski, UIUC, USA (August 2008)

Research Students/Research Officers/Research Fellows:

Graduated PhD/MEng students

  1. Wang Wei (2006), Zhen Yongda (2006), Liu Zengcai (2007), Han Ming (2007), Zhang Lan (2007), Ma Su Su Khine (2008).

Current PhD/MEng Students

  1. Wang Shuangyin (2007), Lu Jinlin (2007), Chen Xinbing (2007), Alireza Babaei (2007), Liang Fengli (2008), Chen Jing (2008), Zeng Jie (2008), Ai Na (2008)

Previous Research officer/Research Fellows

  1. Dr Wang Wei (2007), Liu Li (2005/2006), Dr Sun Deen (2006), Dr Tian Zhiqun (2005/2006), Dr Guo Hongwei (2006), Dr Ye Yinmei (2007), Cheng Chia Siang (2007), Liong Yixiong (2007), Dr. He Tianmin (2006-2008), Dr Xu Changwei (2007/2008)

Current Research Officer/Research Fellows

  1. Dr Zhang Lan (2007), Dr Tang Haolin (2007), Dr Ma Jianjun (2007), He Hongquan (2007), Dr Xie Zhizhong (2008), Dr Lu Shanfu (2008), Dr Liu Min (2008), Dr Cao Xianguo (2008), Dr Wang Deli (2008), Dr Jiang Cairong (2008)

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