THE PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE ERDF MANCHESTER FUEL CELL INNOVATION CENTRE (MFCIC) - AWARD

The focus of the MFCIC is advanced materials for fuel cells. The University requires a suite of modular low power fuel cells units (PEM, SOFC, etc.) which can be used to test our materials and to conduct condition-monitoring experiments. A suite of cells and associated hydrogen generation facilities will also be required. These units will also be used in our teaching/training activities. A wide range of liquid and gaseous fuels can be reformed into hydrogen.

Our activities in this field will include:

• i)exploring metallic and organic/inorganic catalyst materials produced via wet-chemical synthesis
• ii)bimetallic catalysts will also be explored where the active nanomaterial is immobilised onto larger micro materials which, results in greater surface areas but keep costs low;
• iii)exploring a range of mesoporous oxides as heterogeneous catalysts with varying compositions, surface structure and functionality towards clean-up efficiency
• iv)coating of identified catalysts onto a range of materials such as planar and 3D microstructures. A catalytic testing rig is required to measure the efficiency/effectiveness of our materials.