Jet Vapor Deposition¿ Process for Electrocatalysts Optimized for Direct Methanol Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Direct Methanol Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (DMPEMFC) technology has great promise forbattery replacement and electric vehicle transportation applications. In a previous collaboration with International Fuel Cells (IFC), Jet Process Corporation (JPC) has demonstrated that its proprietary Jet Vapor Deposition¿ (JVD) process can be used to deposit mixed precious metal-oxide catalysts directly on Nafion¿ proton exchange membrane. These catalysts demonstrated extraordinary activity and unexpectedly suppressed methanol "cross over" which has previously limited DMPEFC performance. We propose in Phase I to continue our collaboration with IFC in which we will systematically prepare and study trial JVD electrocatalysts suitable for fuel cell applications. In Phase I, we will prepare at least 50 trial JVD catalysts. Our subcontractor, Oxley Research Inc. will "prescreen" the electrochemical performance of these sample catalysts using cyclic voltammetry. The most promising catalyst formulations will be deposited directly on Nafion substrates and submitted to IFC for evaluation. Success in Phase I will lay the groundwork for a Phase II effort in which JPC will scale up the JVD processes for pilot scale production of DMPEFC electrocatalysts for incorporation in IFC's prototype fuel cell systems.