Modeling and diagnostics of degradation phenomena in catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

聚合物电解质燃料电池催化剂层退化现象的建模和诊断

• 批准号: 354711-2007
• 负责人: Eikerling, Michael
• 金额: $ 2.5万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=431416
• 关键词: Modeling; diagnostics; degradation; phenomena; catalyst

Securing the future energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way has become the highest priority global concern. Enormous research programs worldwide explore polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) as promising power sources for vehicular transportation, portable applications, and residential power units. Unrivaled thermodynamic efficiencies, high energy densities, and ideal compatibility with hydrogen render PEFC a primary solution to the global energy challenge. In spite of these assets and recent successful demonstrations of PEFC, industry has identified a number of hurdles that fuel cells must overcome in order to succeed as power sources in commercial products. These include but are not limited to voltage efficiency, power density, operational range flexibility, cost of functional materials, fuel flexibility, and water handling. Moreover, fuel cells need to fulfill rigorous requirements on stability and reliability of performance. At present, the fuel cell industry fails short in providing required lifetimes for targeted applications. Due to these technological barriers, enormous interest in recent years has focused on understanding and mitigating degradation processes in fuel cells. The objective of this collaboration between Simon Fraser University and Ballard Power Systems is to develop modeling-based predictive capabilities for degradation phenomena (ageing) in PEFC. This work will be unique in establishing relations between complex morphologies of materials, fuel cell design parameters, global operating conditions, failure modes of fuel cell operation and physical mechanisms of degradation. Initially, we will focus on the cathode catalyst layer, since it incurs the majority of the cell voltage losses. First, we will utilize phenomenological approaches to rationalize effects of defined structural changes on performance degradation. Thereafter, we strive towards a detailed physical understanding of underlying degradation mechanisms.

以可持续和对环境负责的方式确保未来的能源需求已成为全球最优先关注的问题。全球范围内的大量研究计划探索聚合物电解质燃料电池（PEFC）作为车辆运输，便携式应用和住宅动力装置的有前途的电源。无与伦比的热力学效率，高能量密度和与氢气的理想兼容性使PEFC成为应对全球能源挑战的主要解决方案。尽管有这些资产和PEFC最近的成功示范，工业界已经确定了燃料电池必须克服的许多障碍，以便在商业产品中成功地作为电源。这些包括但不限于电压效率、功率密度、操作范围灵活性、功能材料的成本、燃料灵活性和水处理。此外，燃料电池需要满足对性能稳定性和可靠性的严格要求。目前，燃料电池工业未能为目标应用提供所需的寿命。由于这些技术障碍，近年来人们对理解和减轻燃料电池的退化过程产生了极大的兴趣。西蒙弗雷泽大学和巴拉德电力系统之间的合作目标是开发基于建模的预测能力，用于预测PEFC中的退化现象（老化）。这项工作将是独特的，在建立材料的复杂形态，燃料电池设计参数，全球运行条件，燃料电池运行的故障模式和物理机制的退化之间的关系。首先，我们将关注阴极催化剂层，因为它引起了大部分的电池电压损失。首先，我们将利用现象学的方法来合理化定义的结构变化对性能退化的影响。此后，我们努力对潜在的退化机制的详细物理理解。