| US researchers could prove copper
is viable as a cheap alternative to gold in fuel cell catalysts by 2009.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are attractive to carmakers looking for alternatives
to fossil fuels. The hydrogen needs to be pure, however, and CO formed
during hydrogen production can poison catalysts.
A team of scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory searching for
a catalyst that could reduce the amount of CO in hydrogen began by working
with expensive nanoparticle materials such as gold-cerium oxide and gold-titanium
oxide. It now expects to get results with copper instead.
A small amount of the expensive nanoparticle gold placed on the cheaper
oxide was recently discovered to have good catalytic properties. It was
thought the gold nanoparticles were the reason why.
Chemist Jose Rodriguez said: “We proved the gold by itself doesn’t
have to be nanoparticles – just standard bulk metallic gold will
do the reaction if it has some help from the oxide.”
The team is now looking for ways to use materials such as copper and monolithium
oxide. It would make the process much more viable for mass-production
in cars.
“We needed to work first with a catalyst we knew would do the job
– gold and cerium oxide,” said Rodriguez. “Now we understand
them, we’ll move towards cheaper materials. “
The group is doing preliminary R&D and hopes to have results later
this year.
© Automotive Engineer, 2008
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