Presentation Type
Poster
Cobalt Imidazolate Frameworks
Abstract
Fuel cell applications have a bright future as a power source for zero-emission automobiles, since they convert chemical energy in hydrogen to high-efficiency electrical energy with water as the only by-product. However, the expense of platinum (Pt) and Pt-based catalysts interferes with its advancement, particularly at the site of the cathode for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Our research in Dr. Ma's laboratory focuses on the development of non-precious ORR cathode catalysts to replace the Pt-based materials currently used. Recently, research has been focused on the exploration of porous cobalt (Co) based imidazolate frameworks as precursors for ORR catalysts, in which each Co atom coordinated to four nitrogen atoms of imidazolate ligands serves as the catalytic active site.
Via rational design of the imidazolate ligands and judicious selection of the metal salts and solvent systems, the Co-imidazolate framework crystals can be obtained under solvothermal reaction conditions. The structures of the obtained crystals will be determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies using the single-crystal X-ray diffractometer in the Department of Chemistry.
By far, we have obtained four new Co-imidazolate framework structures, which possess very interesting zeolite topologies of SOD and RHO. In addition to continuing to prepare new structures, future work will focus on checking the surface areas of the obtained materials and preparing them into ORR catalysts for fuel cell tests.
Categories
Natural Sciences
Research Type
Research Assistant
Mentor Information
Dr. Shengqian Ma
Cobalt Imidazolate Frameworks
Fuel cell applications have a bright future as a power source for zero-emission automobiles, since they convert chemical energy in hydrogen to high-efficiency electrical energy with water as the only by-product. However, the expense of platinum (Pt) and Pt-based catalysts interferes with its advancement, particularly at the site of the cathode for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Our research in Dr. Ma's laboratory focuses on the development of non-precious ORR cathode catalysts to replace the Pt-based materials currently used. Recently, research has been focused on the exploration of porous cobalt (Co) based imidazolate frameworks as precursors for ORR catalysts, in which each Co atom coordinated to four nitrogen atoms of imidazolate ligands serves as the catalytic active site.
Via rational design of the imidazolate ligands and judicious selection of the metal salts and solvent systems, the Co-imidazolate framework crystals can be obtained under solvothermal reaction conditions. The structures of the obtained crystals will be determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies using the single-crystal X-ray diffractometer in the Department of Chemistry.
By far, we have obtained four new Co-imidazolate framework structures, which possess very interesting zeolite topologies of SOD and RHO. In addition to continuing to prepare new structures, future work will focus on checking the surface areas of the obtained materials and preparing them into ORR catalysts for fuel cell tests.
