Simon Poynton awarded Postgraduate of the Year 2011
Friday 13 May 2011
Simon Poynton has been awarded the FHMS Postgraduate Researcher of the Year Award, for his research in non-platinum electrocatalysts and alkaline membranes suitable for use in solid alkaline membrane fuel cells.
Traditional membrane fuel cells rely upon highly ionic conductive proton exchange membranes that have been heavily researched over many decades. Due to the pH of the system, expensive platinum-based electrocatalysts are required. By changing to an anion conductive membrane, the use of cheaper, more abundant non-platinum electrocatalyst are now available.
Simon’s work involves the development of cathode electrodes utilizing silver and gold nano-particular electrocatalysts. The optimized electrodes performed comparably with those produced using the more expensive platinum electrocatalyst.
His research has resulted in the publication of 9 peer-reviewed journals, 2 book chapters and a patent covering ionically conductive ionomers for use at the electrode-membrane interface. He has presented his work at multiple international conferences, including: SET for Britain, in the Houses of Parliament, an IEA workshop in Germany, International Conference on Solid State Proton Conductors in Japan, and as an invited oral presenter at the Korean Institute of Energy Research. He was also awarded the RSC Downland Postgraduate Researcher of the Year 2010.
Nominations for next year’s award will be opened in November 2011.
