Vapor Deposition Process for Engineering of Dispersed PEMFC ORR Pt/NbOx/C Catalysts Award Number: DE-EE0007675 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6, B3.15 Fuel Cells Technology Office Date: 12/5/2016 Location(s): MI Office(s): Golden Field Officer
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
December 12, 2016
Estimated Read Time min
Vapor Deposition Process for Engineering of Dispersed PEMFC ORR Pt/NbOx/C Catalysts
Award Number: DE-EE0007675
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6, B3.15
Fuel Cells Technology Office
Date: 12/5/2016
Location(s): MI
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide funding to Ford Motor Company (Ford) for the development, integration, and validation of a new cathode catalyst material for increased activity and durability for use in proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells by developing and optimizing a vacuum powder coating physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. The project includes catalyst material development, optimization, scale-up, and accelerated stress testing in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Project activities would occur at laboratory and office facilities of Ford in Michigan, Exothermics in New Hampshire, IRD Fuel Cells in New Mexico, Northereastern University in Massachusetts, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
Project work would involve the use and handling of various hazardous materials, including industrial solvents, hydrogen, oil, electricity, nano-scale carbon powders, fiber material, and organic liquids. All such handling would occur in-lab or within appropriate facilities. All hazardous materials would be managed in accordance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Existing health and safety policies and procedures would be followed including employee training, proper protective equipment, engineering controls, monitoring, and internal assessments. To help ensure compliance with applicable health and safety regulations and minimize health and safety risks to employee and the public, additional policies and procedures would be implemented as necessary as new health and safety risks are identified. The project would not require physical modification of existing facilities or construction of new facilities and there would be no change in the use, mission, or operation of any of the existing facilities in support of project work. No modifications to existing permits, or new permits, licenses or authorizations would be required to perform project activities. There would be no ground disturbing activities occurring as a result of project activities. Nanoscale materials (carbon nanopowder) would be used as part of the proposed project. All materials would be handled in an isolated vacuum chamber while processing and would be stored, recycled and/or disposed of following in house laboratory procedures and appropriate regulations.