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

目前，氢和燃料电池行业在全球范围内获得了巨大的发展势头，因为所有行业对零排放运输系统的需求日益迫切。随着燃料电池商业化和制造的加速，对材料变化的理解作为质量控制和设计方法的输入变得至关重要，以同时降低制造成本和提高产品耐用性。因此，详细了解潜在的故障启动点，称为非均匀性，是必不可少的。在这个建议中解决的研究目标是确定膜电极组件（MEA）的不均匀性在子组件的水平，以及在组件接口，并建议缓解路线，以增加燃料电池的耐用性。这项工作利用了西蒙弗雷泽大学（SFU），巴拉德电力系统和W.L.戈尔。新的结果和发现将通过利用X射线计算机断层扫描来可视化燃料电池运行期间感兴趣的微观特征来实现，目的是捕获所需的理解，从而提高寿命。所有结果将与Ballard和戈尔分享，并根据具体的结果，MEA设计策略，以减轻和改善燃料电池的性能和耐久性将提出建议。加拿大的利益将通过几种方式累积;最值得注意的是通过向巴拉德转让知识和技术，巴拉德是燃料电池开发和制造的世界领导者，有能力在全球市场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的全球领导者戈尔，项目成果将有利于整个燃料电池制造供应链，从膜，电极和MEA组件到燃料电池堆和系统。预期的研究工具和成果也是重要的SFU支持其新的可持续能源工程计划。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.