Bilateral project Italy-USA "Hydrogen transport through nano-structured electrodes for energy application" : progress report and perspectives

Abstract

ENEA, the University of Missouri, NRL and SRI are cooperating within the frame of an International Project supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Joint Declaration following the 10th Review Conference on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and the United States of America for the years 2011-2013). The research field is on Metal Hydrogen Systems for Energy Applications. The research project is oriented to improve the electrochemical processes involving hydrogen as energy vector. The functional effects of specific materials, characterized by a very high chemical activity and large mass transfer for hydrogen, have been investigated in order to have enhanced hydrogen kinetics . The material science involved in such a study is strongly in touch with the scientific program of ICC-18. The proposed approach is to develop properly shaped and structured layers of active metals to be nested on the electrodes, in order to optimize the effect of the surface morphology on the electrodes kinetics. The cooperation between ENEA and University of Missouri was officially activated by the Project. The exchange of scientist visits from the beginning of the Project up to now is quantified in more than 100 days by considering both Countries. The joint work performed within a stable cooperative frame, provided by the Project, gives the proper conditions for improving the technological and scientific relations between the Italian and American institutions.