Advanced polymer electrolyte membranes for alcohol fuel cell sensors

酒精燃料电池传感器(AFCS)因其在人体呼气酒精浓度检测中的巨大潜力而备受关注。与AFCS相关的一个主要技术障碍是，在极端环境(温度和湿度)下，由于质子电解质膜(PEM)和催化剂层(CL)的脱水，传感器的性能会下降。我们解决这一问题的途径是(I)开发和应用在各种环境条件下具有高保水能力的复合PEM和(Ii)膜电极组件(MEA)的制备方法的优化可以为AFCSs的性能测试和延长提供重要的进步。该项目的最终目标是为燃料电池传感器开发具有良好稳定性的新型不受湿度影响的复合膜和MEA，并首次与酒精对策系统公司合作将燃料电池传感器商业化。研究结果将有助于提高燃料电池传感器的性能和稳定性，降低成本，扩大和提升加拿大相关产业的能力，从而为加拿大知识型经济的发展做出贡献。这项拟议的研究将利用纳米技术的最新进展，为燃料电池传感器技术带来革命性的进步。拟议的活动还旨在培训高素质人员(HQP)，他们将在加拿大和全球下一代技术的发展中发挥关键作用。

Alcohol fuel cell sensor (AFCS) has been attracting considerable attention due to the great potential in the detection of human breath alcohol concentration. One major technical barrier specifically associated with the AFCS is performance decrease of the sensor due to dehydration of the proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) and catalysts layers (CL) within environmental (temperature and humidity) extremes. Our approach to solve the problem is to (i) develop and apply a composite PEM with high capacity for water retention at various environmental conditions and (ii) the optimization of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication methods could provide a significant advancement in determining and prolonging the performance of AFCSs. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop novel humidity-independant composite membranes and MEA with excellent stability for fuel cell sensors and initiate the first time collaboration with Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp. to commercialize of the fuel cell sensors. The results of the proposed research will help enhance the performance and stability and reduce the cost of fuel cell sensors, and expand and enhance the capability of relevant Canadian industry, thus contributing to the development of knowledge-based Canadian economy. The proposed research could bring revolutionary advances to the fuel cell sensor technology by taking advantages of the most recent progresses in nanotechnology. The proposed activity also aims to train highly qualified personnel (HQP) who will be critical in the development of next generation technology in Canada and globally.