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

为了克服全球变暖和能源短缺的挑战，对清洁和可再生能源系统的研究进展迅速。质子交换膜（PEM）燃料电池在低温下通过催化电化学反应利用氢和氧发电，是清洁移动（中远距离）和发电的一个引人注目的选择。尽管PEM燃料电池在消费领域取得了巨大的进步，但公众对其组件和制造过程对环境的影响一直存在质疑，这削弱了其作为一项绿色技术的潜力。燃料电池内部不同的石油基碳成分（催化剂支撑层、气体扩散层、微孔层和双极板）的存在就是这样一个例子。本研究试图通过开发具有优异性能的可再生原料中的含碳成分来解决这一问题，用于PEM燃料电池。此外，研究成果将有助于增加生物材料在能源材料领域的价值，并将其整合到制造过程中，在不牺牲性能和耐用性的情况下降低燃料电池的成本。经过近三十年的深入研究，PEM燃料电池已进入商业应用的早期阶段；然而，生产成本仍然很高，电池的耐用性和性能也有限。这些挑战与发生在阴极侧的氧还原反应的缓慢动力学和水的积累有关，这导致细胞泛洪。在催化剂层和气体扩散层之间应用疏水微孔层（MPL）可以提高催化剂层的去除率，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，必须对MPL的设计和性能进行相应的优化。在未来五年内，本研究将重点从具有新性能的生物基碳材料中开发MPL:(1)开发具有适当导电性和导热性的新型生物基碳粉和官能团；（二）通过混合生产的生物基碳材料，使用最少量的疏水剂（含氟聚合物基材料），研制适当的浆料油墨；（iii）从制备好的浆料中开发具有适当孔隙度和渗透率的MPL，然后进行热处理；（iv）在按比例扩大的单个燃料电池堆中测试和验证生物基MPL，使其成为具有竞争力的商业选择，具有低成本、高性能和耐用性。该研究项目与加拿大氢战略非常一致，所有学生都将受益于该研究的多学科性质，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.