Fluorine-free catalyst layers for low temperature hydrogen fuel cells

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This project is designed to undertake research that propels development of fluorine-free, proton exchangemembrane electrode assemblies for hydrogen/air fuel cells and to foster increased competitiveness for Canadain future global fuel cell and hydrogen technology markets. Building on advancements in fluorine-free protonconducting plastics invented at SFU that have been recently commercialized in the form of ultra-thinmembranes by Vancouver-based Ionomr Innovations Inc., attention is now focused on fluorine-free protonconducting polymeric binders for porous electrode layers in order to facilitate the electrochemical reactionsrequired for hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction on either side of the membrane. This topic is importantbecause scale up and deployment of hydrogen fuel cells is an integral component of Canada's StrengthenedClimate Action Plan designed to reduce net CO2 emissions to zero by 2050, as reinforced by Canada's newlyminted Hydrogen Strategy. The H2 strategy proposes the roll out 5 million fuel cell vehicles in Canada by 2050and support widespread adoption of the hydrogen economy, that will abate CO2 emissions by 190 Mt-CO2e inCanada alone. The vast number of fuel cell engines that need to be manufactured, and the quantity of materialsneeded to support these activities requires innovative solutions for materials design. The potential outcome ofthis partnership between Ionomr Innovations Inc. and SFU is to provide a significant Canada-madetechnological advance that can be integrated into the fast-expanding hydrogen fuel cell economy to facilitaterealization of Canada's ambitious hydrogen strategy.