BIFUNCTIONAL OXYGEN ELECTRODE SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR ZINC-AIRBATTERIES

RECHARGEABLE ALKALINE METAL-AIR BATTERIES, SUCH AS ZINC-AIR,ARE ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATES FOR VEHICLE PROPULSION. AN AIR ELECTRODE THAT CAN OPERATE IN BOTH THE OXYGEN REDUCTION AND OXYGEN EVOLUTION MODES IS NEEDED. A COST-EFFECTIVE APPROACHTO A BIFUNCTIONAL ELECTRODE IS TO USE A SUPPORTED CATALYST; HOWEVER, LOW COST CATALYST SUPPORTS FOR THESE BIFUNCTIONAL AIR ELECTRODES, SUCH AS CARBON, ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION. THE PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A POTENTIALLY LOW COST, HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE, AND CORROSION-RESISTANT MATERIAL ARE PLANNED TO PROVIDE A NOVEL CATALYST SUPPORT FOR BIFUNCTIONAL AIR ELECTRODES. THIS MATERIAL IS BEING PREPARED DURING PHASE I IN HIGH SURFACE FORM BY TWO OR MORE DIFFERENT METHODS. THE POWDERS WILL BE CHARACTERIZED FOR COMPOSITION, SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA, AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY. MATERIALS WITH HIGH CONDUCTIVITY AND SURFACE AREA WILL BE TESTED FOR STABILITY IN A HOT, OXYGENATED ALKALINE SOLUTION. ELECTRODES WILL ALSO BE FABRICATED FOR POTENTIOSTATIC AND POTENTIODYNAMIC TESTING OVER THE RANGE OF POTENTIALS EXPECTED FOR BIFUNCTIONAL AIR ELECTRODES.