Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell catalyst layer degradation

能源安全对社会来说从未像现在这样重要。气候变化导致的极端天气条件、干旱和洪水，再加上缺乏能源储存和传统能源基础设施老化，给世界各地的市政当局带来了危险的生活条件。清洁的电化学能源转换是建立能源安全、减少加拿大对化石燃料依赖的关键。聚合物电解质膜(PEM)燃料电池是未来清洁能源的一个特别重要的组成部分，是交通应用中内燃机的一种有吸引力的替代品。PEM燃料电池提供本地零排放、快速启动，并使用可从风能和太阳能等可再生能源生产的清洁氢气。然而，目前PEM燃料电池在加拿大的广泛采用受到成本高和寿命有限的阻碍，这在很大程度上是由于膜电极组件(MEA)，其中包括昂贵的铂。在这个项目中，多伦多大学(Bazylak教授)和Ballard Power Systems Inc.建立了新的合作伙伴关系，通过非原位成像和操纵性成像、电化学性能表征和传输特性分析来阐明离聚体的磺化降解和铂催化剂位置的覆盖。特别是，这项工作将采用扫描透射式X射线显微镜和X射线吸收光谱来表征MEA，并为我们设计更高性能和更持久的PEM燃料电池MEA提供参考。这项工作的方法和成果将对更广泛的电化学能量转换领域产生重大影响，在该领域，基于MEA的技术，如PEM电解槽和二氧化碳电解槽，将受益于耐离聚体降解和反应现场覆盖的强大MEA的开发。该研究团队将通过出版物、会议演讲和专利广泛传播他们的发现，以支持加拿大在基于MEA的技术商业化方面的领先地位的发展。

Energy security has never been more vital for society. Extreme weather conditions, droughts, and floods due to climate change in combination with lack of energy storage and aging conventional energy infrastructure pose dangerous living conditions for municipalities around the world. Clean electrochemical energy conversion is critically needed to build energy security that reduces Canada's reliance on fossil fuels. The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a particularly important part of a clean energy future as an attractive alternative to the internal combustion engine for transportation applications. PEM fuel cells offer zero local emissions, fast-start ups, and use of clean hydrogen that can be produced from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. However, the widespread adoption of PEM fuel cells in Canada is currently hindered by high costs and limited lifetimes, largely stemming from the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which includes expensive platinum. For this project, the University of Toronto (Prof. Bazylak) and Ballard Power Systems Inc. developed a new partnership to elucidate the sulphonic degradation of the ionomer and coverage of platinum catalyst sites through ex situ and operando imaging, electrochemical performance characterization, and transport property analysis. In particular, this work will feature scanning transmission X-ray microscopy with X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to characterize the MEA and inform our design of higher performing and longer lasting PEM fuel cell MEAs. The methods and outcomes from this work will be highly impactful to the broader electrochemical energy conversion field, where MEA based technologies such as PEM electrolyzers and carbon dioxide electrolyzers will benefit from the development of robust MEAs that are resistant to ionomer degradation and reaction site coverage. This research team will broadly disseminate their findings through publications, conference presentations, and patents to support the growth of Canadian leadership for MEA based technology commercialization.