Advanced PEM Electrocatalysts for Submarine Oxygen Generators

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis is used on-board submarines to generate breathing oxygen for the crew. Expensive noble metals are used as electrocatalysts and these precious metals contribute to approximately 25% of the cost of the electrolysis cell. Greatly reducing or eliminating the amount of noble metal electrocatalysts would significantly reduce the cost of the electrolysis cell stack. The Navy estimates that the cost savings would be ~$200,000 per electrolysis stack. Non-noble metal electrocatalysts are being developed, but so far no alternative has matched the performance of current Pt electrocatalystsThe objective of this Phase I project is to develop active electrocatalysts for PEM electrolyzers. We will prepare electrocatalysts using functionalized carbons as metal supports.We will optimize the metal content, as well as the physical properties (e.g., surface morphology and pore size distribution) of the new carbons and screen them based on their activity.We will prepare MEAs using the most promising materials and test their electrochemical performance under representative conditions.Based on the experimental results, we will carry out an engineering analysis to estimate cost of the new materials and compare them to current electrocatalysts.