Advanced Materials for Hydrogen Fuel Cells Safety Enhancement under Caustic Operation Conditions

氢能作为一种高效、清洁的能源，可以在缓解能源危机的同时减少环境污染，已成为全球可再生能源发展的重点。氢动力聚合物电解质膜燃料电池(PEMFC)以其高效的电化学能转换效率、较低的工作温度和近零污染等优点，已被广泛研究开发为电动汽车(EV)、航空、民用备用电源以及电网规模以上的储能应用的最合适的电源。从来没有使用过预防方法来消除这种现象。具有更高机械和化学强度的新型膜可以解决这一问题。将开发新的PEM膜，以提高这些性能，以抵御因苛性操作条件而造成的压力攻击、负载或振动等造成的任何损害。它还将允许加压燃料供应，从而改善传质和整体能量输出。阴极流场通道的表面将应用氢气敏感涂层，膜、气体扩散层(GDL)上将嵌入压力监测电子设备，并用于现场压力、泄漏和湿度监测，从而避免需要庞大而昂贵的外部控制和管理系统连接。

Hydrogen energy, as a kind of efficient and clean energy, can simultaneously alleviate the energy crisis and reduce environmental pollution and has become the focus of global renewable energy development. Hydrogen-powered polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with the advantages of high chemical to electrical energy conversion efficiency, low operating temperature, and near-zero pollution have been widely researched and developed to be the most suitable power source for electric vehicles (EV), aviation, residential backup power, as well as energy storage applications up to grid-scale.An intrinsic issue of hydrogen polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) where the inlet gas pressure difference between anode and cathode causes damage to the membrane during caustic operation conditions, especially when they are used for aircraft or submarines. A precautionary method has never been applied to eliminate this phenomenon. Novel membranes with higher mechanical and chemical strength can solve this issue. New PEM membranes will be developed to increase such properties to against any damage caused by pressure attack, load or vibration etc. because of caustic operation conditions. It will also allow pressurised fuel supply which improves mass transfer and overall energy output.Hydrogen-sensitive coating will be applied on the surface of cathode flow field channels and pressure monitoring electronics will be embedded on the membrane, gas diffusion layer (GDL) and for in-situ pressure, leakage and humidity monitoring, avoiding the need for bulky and expensive externally connected to control and management systems.