Novel MEA for enhanced durability and high performance polymer electrolyte fuel cell

拟议的项目涉及刺激氢能的最终用户市场。由国际能源署(IEA)发布的具有里程碑意义的2019年报告(氢气的未来)强调了氢气的巨大机遇，突显了“前所未有的政治和商业势头”。氢能为艾伯塔省和加拿大提供了多种机会：(I)加强艾伯塔省的能源领导地位和经济安全；(Ii)为包括长途运输、化学品和钢铁在内的各个行业的脱碳提供技术解决方案；(Ii)通过采用氢能，为改善艾伯塔省、加拿大人和其他全球司法管辖区的空气质量和福祉做出贡献。 到2050年，在这个价值2.3万亿美元的氢气市场中，很大一部分取决于能否通过使燃料电池汽车更具竞争力来“通过车队、货运和走廊扩大氢气运输”(2019年国际能源署报告)。氢燃料电池在重型卡车和公共汽车中应用的一个关键障碍是，与轻型汽车的氢燃料电池(25000小时比5000小时)相比，它们的耐用性必须提高五倍。进一步的研究表明，影响燃料电池耐久性的因素是聚合物电解质膜的耐久性。 在这个为期两年的项目中，一种新的膜电极组件(MEA)概念将被集成到台式燃料装置中，以评估其与传统膜电极组件设计/材料相比的优势。结果将是一个技术就绪级别4的知识/产品，可以解决耐用性问题，加快氢燃料电池汽车的采用

The proposed project is concerned with stimulating the end-user market for hydrogen energy. The landmark 2019 report (Future of Hydrogen) by none other than International Energy Agency (IEA) underlines the massive opportunity for hydrogen highlighting the "unprecedented political and business momentum". Hydrogen energy offers multiple opportunities for Alberta and Canada: (i) strengthen Alberta's energy leadership and economic security; (ii) provide technological solutions for decarbonization of various sectors including long-haul transport, chemicals, and iron and steel (ii) contribute to improving air quality and wellness of Albertans, Canadians and other global jurisdiction through adoption of hydrogen energy. A large fraction of this $2.3 Trillion hydrogen market by 2050 is hinged on the ability to "expand hydrogen in transport through fleets, freight and corridors" by making fuel-cell vehicles more competitive (2019 IEA Report). A key hurdle for hydrogen fuel cell adoption in heavy duty trucks and buses is that their durability must increase five-folds compared to hydrogen fuel cells for light weight vehicles (25000 hours versus 5000 hours). A further scrutiny identifies the achiles heels for fuel cells durability to be the durability of the polymer electrolyte membrane. In this two-year long project, a novel concept of membrane electrode assembly (MEA), realizable with existing expertise and incorporating recent materials innovation by the team, will be integrated into a benchtop fuel device to assess its superiority for durability and performance compared to conventional MEA design/materials. The outcome will be a technology readiness level 4 knowledge/ product that could solve the durability issue expediting adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles