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Hydrogen fuel cell technology has come a long way in the one hundred and seventy
years since its inception. However, the future success of hydrogen fuel cells in the energy
marketplace hinges upon the development of low cost, highly active, and durable
electrocatalysts to drive the sluggish electrochemical reactions occurring on both the anode
and cathode ofthefuelcell.Ourcurrentrelianceonplatinum(Pt),andalloysofplatinumgroup
metals (PGM), hinder the economically viable commercialization of this incredibly powerful
technology, due to their high cost and rarity. We here at the Center for MicroEngineered
Materials (CMEM) have been key players in the design, synthesis, characterization, and
implementation of a novel class of electrocatalysts based on abundant and inexpensive
chemicalprecursorsknowninthefuelcellcommunityas PGMfreeelectrocatalysts,whichare
composedprimarilyofnitrogendopedgraphenelikestructuresandiron(Fe).
Should the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energys (EERE), Innovative Development in EnergyRelated Applied Sciences (IDEAS) grant
programconcur with CMEMastothe importance ofthis projectand resolve to move forward
withits implementation,weareconfidentthattheconstructionandutilizationofourproposed
synthesisrobotwill benefit not only ourselves,butalsothefuelcellcommunity,asawhole,as
weworktogethertowardcreatingacleanerenergyfutureforalllifeontheplanet.
CurrentSituation
The current lack of diversity and volume of PGMfree catalyst production is the main
problem we face in developing a detailed understanding of the mechanism by which these
powerful materials perform their impressive task. As a result, we are limitedinour abilityto
moveforwardinthedevelopmentofoptimalelectrocatalystsforcommercialproduction.
Additional difficulties arise due to the lack of equipment available to the ten graduate
students andresearchfacultycurrentlyworkingonprojectsinvolvingtheproductionofcatalyst
materialviatheSSM.Ourcurrentsupplyofequipmentnumbers:
2workinghightemperaturefurnacesforpyrolysis
2workinglowtemperaturefurnacesfordrying
4stirplates
1ofeachspecialtygascylinderneededforpyrolysis
2fumehoodsneededforhandlingconcentratedacids
2potentiostatsforelectrochemicaltestingofresultingmaterials
1fuelcellteststationforfinalelectrochemicalanalysis
Although, students and faculty at CMEM have produced many breakthrough materials
utilizingthis equipment,sharingsaidequipmentovermultipleprojectsincreasestheamountof
timeittakestoproduceasufficientamountofcatalyticmaterialtooverfortyeightmanhours.
Finally, the simplest solution to the equipment problem would be to purchase additional
equipment. However, CMEM has just over 1500 sq. ft. of space available for all projects
involvingPGMfreecatalystsproductionwhichmustaccommodate:
5computermonitorsandharddrives
storageforalargelibraryofchemicals
deskspaceforstudents
workingbenchspaceforexperiments
In all, there is not enough space for the amount of equipment necessary to increase the
catalyst production rate to even half that of a labwithjustone synthesis robot.According to
our calculations one fully functional synthesis robot, capable of working around the clock on
multiple projects, in an automated fashion, would have the ability to increase our catalyst
productionrate nearlythreehundredfold. Itis for thisreason that ourgoalatCMEMisnotto
invest in additional space to house additional equipment, but
instead to invest our time and effort in the design, construction,
andimplementationofjustonesynthesisrobot.
ProjectPlan
With the ultimate goal of designing and utilizing a synthesis robot to carry out the
1
aforementionedsynthetic procedure,whichhasmorethan proven itsworthtodate
, wehere
at CMEM have identified and mapped out a series of objectives to reach this goal. Each
objective is followed by a rigorous analysis of the steps needed to realize them, as well as
contingency plans, where necessary, should thesteps in each objectiverequire improvement.
Eachobjective, as wellastherespectivestepsneededtoachieve them,are explainedindetail
inthefollowingsection.
Objective1).Recruitthebuildteam.
Step1).Committeeformation
A committee foranalyzingpotentialcollaboratorsandtheirrespectivecontributionswill
be assembledand composedoffacultyfromCMEM. Namely,PlamenAtanassov,Distinguished
Professor of Chemical and Biological engineering and Director of CMEM , Alexey Serov,
Associate Research Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Kateryna
Artyushkova,AssociateResearchProfessor,DepartmentofChemicalandBiologicalEngineering,
and myself Jonathan Gordon, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering,andChemistryandChemicalBiology,AssistantdirectorofCMEM.
1. Thecommitteewillmeetbiweeklyfortwohoursduringthecourseoftheselection
processtodiscusspertinentinformation,fieldconcerns,andoffersuggestions.
2. Thecommitteewillultimatelyberesponsibleforvotingonallfinaldecisionsastothe
identityandresponsibilitiesofallcollaborators.
Step2).Designcriteriaforcollaboratorselection.
1. Committeememberswillcomposeacomprehensivesetofcriteriauponwhichpotential
collaboratorswill beselected.These criteriashouldinclude,butnotbelimitedto:awell
established track record ofcollaborationwithchemical engineeringineitheracademia
or industry, and prior involvement in the design and construction of similar robotics
systemsusedformanufacturing.
Step3).Initiateandfieldbidsfromeachofthemajorcollaboratorsofthebuild,i.e.,mechanical
engineeringandcomputerprograming.
1. Acomprehensivedocumentdetailingthespecificneedsfromeachsectorwillbe
composedbythereviewcommittee.
2. Alistofpotentialcollaboratorsagreeduponbyallmembersofthecommitteewillbe
created.
3. Potentialcollaboratorswillbeformallycontactedandaskedtoparticipateinthebidding
process.
4. Onlyafterthedeadlineforsubmissionofbidshaspassedwillthereviewcommittee
meettoanalyzeanddiscussthequalificationsandcapabilitiesofpotentialcollaborators
basedontheirrespectiveproposals.
5. Finaldecisionswillbemadetwoweeksafterallbidshavebeenthoroughlyanalyzedby
thecommitteeinordertogivethecommitteememberstimetoexploreanyconcerns
theymayhaveaboutpotentialcollaborators.
6. Contingency
:shouldthesituationarisewhereinaconsensuscannotbereachedasto
thefinalselectionofcollaborators,anadditionaltwoweeksandaminimumoftwo
additionalreviewcommitteemeetingswillbeheldandfinaldecisionswillbegivento
themajorityvoteofthecommittee.
Objective2).Purchasematerialsandinvestincomputerprogramdevelopment
Step1).Materialrequisitionmanagerswillbeappointedfromeachofthethreeteams,
i.e.,CMEM,MechanicalEngineering,ComputerScience.
4. Safeguard:
toensurethattheprojectdoesnothingeuponthedeliveryof
material from a particular supplier, a minimum of three alternative suppliers will be
securedbythematerialrequisitionmanager.
Step2).Acomprehensivelistofmaterialswillbecomposed.
3. Updates to these lists and any adjustments to the budget as a result will need to be
approvedbythereviewcommittee.
Objective3).Buildandtesttherobot.
Step1).Assembleprimarycomponents:
Hightemperaturefurnacecontrols
Massflowcontrollers
Autosampler
Reactionapparatus
Controlarms
Operatorinterface
Step2).Integrateandtestprimarycomponentfunctionalityandcommunication
Step3).Finalassembly
1. Finalassemblyisprojectedtotakeplaceoneyearfollowingtherecruitmentofthebuild
team.
2. Allrespectivecomponentswillneedtobegatheredinacentrallocation.
3. WorkspacewillbeprovidedbytheUNMdepartmentofManufacturingEngineering.
Step4).Diagnostictesting
1. CMEMstudentsandfacultywillrunaseriesofreproducibilityandefficiencyteststo
comparetheproductsoftheroboticsynthesistopreviouslyobtaineddataforamodel
catalystsystem.
2. Contingency
:shouldtherobotfailtoexecutesyntheticproceduresatornearthe
desiredrate,allmembersofthebuildteamwillmeettoidentify,discuss,andplan
solutions.
Qualifications
and industrial collaborations, more than qualify us to initiate the highly collaborative project
thatisthetopicofthisproposal.
Costs
Budget
Title
Description
InKind
TotalCost
JonathanGordon
Payforservices
renderedasproject
coordinator.
Payforservices
renderedasreview
committeememberand
technicalconsultant.
Payforservices
renderedasreview
committeememberand
technicalconsultant.
Payforservices
renderedasreview
committeememberand
technicalconsultant.
Payforservices
renderedintermsof
robothardware
constructionand
integration.
Payforservices
renderedintermsof
robotoperatingsystem
designandintegration.
Constructionofthe
robotwillrequirea
physicalpresencefrom
anunknownnumberof
METandCSTteam
membersandtheir
respectivecomponents
forthebuild.
$100,000salary
$2,000
$150,000salary
$20,000
$125,000salary
$20,000
$125,000
$20,000
Estimatedvalueof
equipmentand
workspace:$1.5million
$75,000
Estimatedvalueof
equipmentandwork
space:$750,000
$75,000
NA
Estimated$5,000
PlamenAtanassov
AlexeySerov
KaterynaArtyushkova
MechanicalEngineering
Team(MET)
ComputerScienceTeam
(CST)
Travelandmaterial
transport
Materials
Materialrequisition
manager(MET)
Materialrequisition
manager(CST)
Materialrequisition
manager(CMEM)
2
DOE
BillandMelindaGates
3
Foundation
DaihatsuMotorCo.,
4,5
Ltd.
SeeObjective3),Step1)
oftheprojectplan.
Payforservices
renderedintermsof
securing,purchasing,
andcatalogingrequired
materialsassociated
withtheMETbuild
responsibilities.
Payforservices
renderedintermsof
securing,purchasing,
andcatalogingrequired
materialsassociated
withtheCST
programing
responsibilities.
Payforservices
renderedintermsof
securing,purchasing,
andcatalogingrequired
materialsassociated
withtheCMEMbuild
responsibilities.
FuelCellTechnologies
Incubator:Innovations
inFuelCelland
HydrogenFuel
Technologies
Toinvestigatethe
capabilitiesofmicrobial
bioelectrochemical
systemswhichcanplay
acentralroleinwater
qualityandsanitation
management
JointUNMDaihatsufuel
celldevelopment
NA
Estimated$250,000
NA
$5,000
NA
$5,000
NA
$5,000
$1millionperyearfor
fouryears
None
$450,000
None
$1million
None
Benefits
Conclusion
Throughout the course of this proposal, the necessity for the development of
inexpensive, highly active, and durable electrocatalytic materials has been illustrated, the
benefitsof introducinganautomatedroboticsystemintothecatalyticmaterialsresearcharena
explainedandquantified, andthequalificationspossessedby CMEMtorealizethegoalsofthe
project put forth. In order to realize thetremendous benefits ofthis project,toboth thefuel
cellcommunityand the planetas a whole,it isessential thatCMEMcollaborate withqualified
investors such as theDOEEEREIDEAS grantprogram.It is withgreat honor that weatCMEM
submit to you this formal proposal, and with an optimistic vision for the futurethatwe look
forwardtoyourthoughtfulresponse.
BestRegards,
Dr.JonathanP.Gordon
AssociateProfessorofChemistryandChemicalBiology
andChemicalandBiologicalEngineering,
AssistantDirectorCenterforMicroEngineeredMaterials(CMEM)
MSC042790,1001UniversityBlvd.SE
Suite103Albuquerque,NM87106
Email:jgordon7@unm.edu
WorksCited
1. Shao,Minhuaetal.RecentAdvancesinElectrocatalystsforOxygenReduction
Reaction.
ChemicalReviews
116.6(2016):35943657.
CrossRef
.Web.
2. EnergyDepartmentInvests$10MThroughtheFuelCellTechnologiesIncubator
FundingOpportunitytoSupportInnovationsinFuelCellandHydrogenFuel
Technologies.
Energy.gov
.N.p.,n.d.Web.13Apr.2016.
3. OPP1139954.
Bill&MelindaGatesFoundation
.N.p.,n.d.Web.13Apr.2016.
4. UniversityofNewMexicosJointlyDevelopedFuelCellTechnologywithDaihatsu
MotorsWinsTop10InnovationAwardatICEFConferenceinJapan|Welcome
toSTC.UNM.N.p.,n.d.Web.13Apr.2016.
5. Writer,KevinRobinsonAvila|JournalStaff.UNMFuelCellTechnologyHonoredin
Japan.N.p.,n.d.Web.13Apr.2016.
6. StyreneandEthylBenzeneDevolatizerinStyrenePilotUnit.
http://www.integratedlabsolutions.com/industriesserved/polymers/systems/mo
nomerandsolventdevolatizers/.Web.13April,2016
7. HydrogenFuelEnergyPowerSymbolIco1.jpg~c200.jpeg,
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss51/EnvironmentalMediaNorthwest/Hydrog
enFuelEnergyPowerSymbolIco1.jpg.Web.13April,2016