Identifying and developing renewable feedstocks for microporous layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

创建清洁和可再生能源系统的研究进展迅速，试图克服全球变暖和能源短缺的挑战。质子交换膜(PEM)燃料电池在低温下通过催化的电化学反应利用氢和氧发电，是清洁机动性(中长距离)和发电的理想选择。尽管在消费领域取得了长足的进步，但公众一直在审查PEM燃料电池组件和制造工艺对环境的影响，这削弱了其作为绿色技术的潜力。燃料电池内部存在不同的石油基碳成分(催化剂载体、气体扩散层、微孔层和双极板)就是这样一个例子。这项研究试图通过从具有优异性能的可再生原料中开发用于PEM燃料电池的碳质成分来解决这一问题。此外，研究成果将有助于增加生物材料的价值，方法是在能源材料领域利用它们，并将它们整合到制造过程中，在不牺牲性能和耐用性的情况下降低燃料电池成本。经过近三十年的密集研究，PEM燃料电池已进入商业化部署的早期阶段，但生产成本居高不下，耐用性和电池性能有限。这些挑战与发生在阴极侧的氧还原反应的缓慢动力学以及导致电池泛滥的水的积累有关。在催化层和气体扩散层之间应用疏水微孔层(MPL)可以提高催化层的脱水率，从而可以缓解这一问题。MPL在电池性能和耐用性方面也起着至关重要的作用；因此，MPL的设计和性能必须进行相应的优化。在接下来的五年里，这项研究的重点是从具有新性能的生物基碳材料开发MPL：(I)开发具有适当导电性和导热性以及官能团的新型生物基碳粉；(Ii)通过混合生产的生物基碳材料来开发合适的浆料油墨，以使用最少的疏水剂(含氟聚合物基材料)；(Iii)从制备的浆料经过热处理后开发具有适当孔隙率和渗透性的MPL；(Iv)在扩大规模的单燃料电池组中测试和验证基于生物的MPL是一种具有竞争力的低成本、高性能和耐用性的商业选择。这项研究计划与加拿大氢战略非常一致，所有学生都将从这项研究的多学科性质中受益，并将获得生物材料和燃料电池领域的专业知识。

Research into the creation of clean and renewable energy systems has been progressing quickly in an attempt to overcome the challenges of global warming and energy scarcity. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells generate electricity using hydrogen and oxygen through a catalyzed electrochemical reaction at low temperature and are a compelling option for clean mobility (medium to long range) and power generation. Despite great strides made in the consumer space, there has been public scrutiny about the environmental impacts of the components and manufacturing processes of PEM fuel cells, which undermine its potential as a green technology. The presence of different petroleum-based carbon components inside the fuel cells (catalyst support, gas diffusion layers, microporous layer and bipolar plate) is one such examples. This research seeks to address this by developing carbonaceous components from renewable feedstocks with superior properties for use in PEM fuel cells. In addition, research outcomes will contribute to adding value to the biomaterials by utilizing them in the energy materials space and integrating them into the manufacturing process to bring down fuel cell cost without sacrificing performance and durability. After nearly three decades of intensive research, PEM fuel cells have reached the early stage of commercial deployment; however, production costs remain high and durability and cell performance are limited. These challenges are related to the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction occurring at the cathode side and the accumulation of water, which causes cell flooding. Applying a hydrophobic microporous layer (MPL) between the catalyst layer and the gas diffusion layer enhances water removal from the catalyst layer thus can alleviate this issue. The MPL also plays a crucial role in cell performance and durability; thus, the design and properties of the MPL must be optimized accordingly. Over the next five years, this research will focus on the development of a MPL from bio-based carbon materials with novel properties by: (i) Developing novel bio-based carbon powder with proper electrical and thermal conductivity, and functional groups; (ii) Developing proper slurry ink from mixing produced bio-based carbon materials to use a minimal amount of the hydrophobic agent (Fluoropolymers based materials) ; (iii) Developing a MPL with proper porosity and permeability from prepared slurry followed by heat treatment ; (iv) Testing and validating the bio-based MPL in scaled up single fuel cell stack as a competitive commercial option with low-cost, high performance and durability. This research program is well aligned with Canadian Hydrogen strategy and all students will benefit from multidisciplinary nature of this research and will gain expertise in the areas of biomaterials and fuel cells.