Improving porous transport layers for PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers

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The need for clean electricity generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, is tremendous. However, due to the inherent intermittency associated with renewable energy sources, clean electricity must be used immediately or stored for later use. The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity can be used to generate hydrogen for later use as fuel for PEM fuel cells. When paired with renewable energy sources, PEM fuel cells provide electricity with zero emissions. However, the cost of PEM fuel cells and hydrogen currently limit widespread commercial adoption. Inefficient operation from heat and mass transport issues contributes to these high costs. With improved efficiencies and performance, smaller fuel cells can be produced to meet the power demands of commercial applications. The research proposed here includes a three-part plan designed to overcome the challenges of PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers. First we will characterize the porous transport layers using computed tomography in order to better understand the material structures. Second, we will visualize the multiphase transport of liquid and gas using X-ray radiography to see how the fluids behave during operation. Finally we will use the combined information from the first and second parts to build heat and mass transport models that can be used to design new materials for both improved performance and cost reduction through the manufacture of smaller devices that deliver more power. PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers have enormous potential for providing a foundation for a green energy landscape, with practical applications in automotives, backup power, off-grid communities, and most timely, in facilitating the generation of cost-efficient clean energy from wind and sun.