Impact of MEA non-uniformities on membrane durability through X-ray computed tomography (XCT) characterization

由于所有部门对零排放运输系统的需求日益迫切，氢和燃料电池行业目前在全球范围内获得了巨大的发展势头。随着燃料电池商业化和制造的加速，增加对材料变化的理解，将其作为质量控制和设计方法的输入，对于同时降低制造成本和提高产品耐用性变得至关重要。因此，详细了解潜在的故障起始点，即所谓的不一致性，是至关重要的。本提案中涉及的研究目标是确定膜电极组件(MEA)在子组件水平以及组件界面的不一致性，并提出缓解途径以提高燃料电池的耐用性。这项工作利用了西蒙·弗雷泽大学(SFU)、巴拉德电力系统公司和W.L.戈尔之间的国际大学-工业供应链合作伙伴关系。利用X射线计算机层析成像技术对燃料电池运行过程中感兴趣的微观特征进行可视化，将获得新的结果和发现，目的是捕捉所需的了解，从而提高寿命。所有结果将与Ballard和Gore分享，并根据具体结果，提出缓解和提高燃料电池性能和耐用性的MEA设计策略。加拿大将通过几种方式获得好处；最引人注目的是通过向Ballard转让知识和技术，Ballard是燃料电池开发和制造领域的世界领先者，有能力在全球市场上利用项目成果实现零排放机动性。通过纳入燃料电池膜设计和生产领域的全球领导者Gore，项目成果将使从膜、电极和MEA组件到燃料电池组和系统的整个燃料电池制造供应链受益。预期的研究工具和结果对SFU支持其新的可持续能源工程计划也很重要。这些成果还将有助于加拿大通过提高燃料电池电动汽车的价值主张来减少温室气体排放的雄心。

The hydrogen and fuel cell industry is currently gaining significant momentum worldwide due to the increasingly urgent need for zero-emission transportation systems across all sectors. As fuel cell commercialization and manufacturing ramp up, increased understanding of material variations as input into quality control and design approaches is becoming critical to enable simultaneous manufacturing cost reductions and product durability enhancements. A detailed understanding of potential failure initiation points, termed non-uniformities, is therefore essential. The research objective addressed in this proposal is to identify membrane electrode assembly (MEA) non-uniformities at the subcomponent level, as well as at the component interfaces, and suggest mitigation routes to increase fuel cell durability. This work leverages an international university-industry supply chain partnership between Simon Fraser University (SFU), Ballard Power Systems, and W.L. Gore. Novel results and findings will be achieved by utilizing X-ray computed tomography to visualize microscopic features of interest during fuel cell operation, with the aim to capture the required understanding leading to enhanced lifetime. All results will be shared with Ballard and Gore and depending on the specific outcomes, MEA design strategies to mitigate and improve fuel cell performance and durability will be suggested. The benefits to Canada will be accrued in several ways; most notably through knowledge and technology transfer to Ballard, a world leader in fuel cell development and manufacturing that has the capacity to exploit the project outcomes across worldwide markets for zero-emission mobility. By the inclusion of Gore, a global leader in fuel cell membrane design and production, the project outcomes will benefit the entire fuel cell manufacturing supply chain from membrane, electrode, and MEA components to fuel cell stacks and systems. The anticipated research tools and outcomes are also important for SFU to support its new Sustainable Energy Engineering programs. The outcomes will also aid Canada's ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the value proposition of fuel cell electric vehicles.