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E u r o S c i C o n C o n f e r e n c e o n

Chemistry

2018

Chemistry 2018

Journal of Organic & Inorganic Chemistry

ISSN 2472-1123

F e b r u a r y 1 9 - 2 0 , 2 0 1 8

P a r i s , F r a n c e

Page 20

T

o overcome the degradation of component materials over time, that are

still hindering the widespread adoption of Proton Exchange Membrane

Fuel Cells (PEMFC), novel materials and original methods of elaboration are

needed. Our approach is based on the use of nanofibres and their multiscale

assembly to produce innovative energy materials with specific architectures

and interfaces, and improved properties. Such materials are prepared with

the versatile, cost-effective and up-scalable electrospinning technique. The

nanometre size and the 1D morphology of the fibres and the porous structure

of the obtained web are expected to bring associated advanced properties,

in particular with regard to directional and mechanical properties and mass

transport, with beneficial effects on the performance and lifetime of the

resulting membrane-electrode assemblies. Due to its inherent adaptability and

applicability, electrospinning can be applied to all stages of the preparation

of PEMFC core materials, from electrolyte membranes to electrodes. On

the one hand, we are developing composite ionomer membranes based

on electrospun webs of inorganic materials and polymers, as well as their

chemical functionalization, which demonstrated to reinforce the membranes

while keeping high proton conductivity; on the other hand, we are preparing

nanofibrous electrocatalyst supports including carbon, metal, metal carbide,

oxide nanofibres and nanotubes with extended durability and high electrical

conductivity. In parallel, we are developing Pt deposition techniques leading

to extended metal surfaces onto the electrospun materials, including Ni and

Cu galvanostatic displacement, self-terminated Pt electrodeposition and

electrochemical atomic layer deposition. These novel morphologies will enable

higher platinum exploitation and increased stability. The assembly of these

materials will allow the development of a new generation of PEMFC materials

in which the components are fabricated entirely by electrospinning and with

the possibility of scale-up at industrial level.

Biography

Sara Cavaliere is Lecturer at the University of Montpellier, In-

stitut Charles Gerhardt for Molecular Chemistry and Materials

since 2009. She received her PhD in Chemistry and Materials

Science in 2006 in Versailles, France, after graduating from Uni-

versity of Milan, Italy. She worked as Postdoctoral Fellow at the

University of Freiburg, Germany, and Lyon, France. Her research

interests focus on design, synthesis and characterisation of

nanostructured and nanofibrous materials for proton exchange

membrane fuel cells and water electrolysers. In 2017 she was

awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal and joined the Institut Univer-

sitaire de France as a Junior Member.

sara.cavaliere@umontpellier.fr

Nanostructured and nanocomposite materials for energy

conversion

Sara Cavaliere

Université de Montpellier, France

Sara Cavaliere, J Org Inorg Chem 2018, Volume: 4

DOI: 10.21767/2472-1123-C1-002