Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell catalyst layer degradation

能源安全对社会来说从未像现在这样至关重要。气候变化导致的极端天气条件、干旱和洪水，加上能源储存不足和传统能源基础设施老化，给世界各地的城市带来了危险的生活条件。清洁的电化学能源转换对于建立能源安全，减少加拿大对化石燃料的依赖至关重要。聚合物电解质膜（PEM）燃料电池是清洁能源未来的一个特别重要的组成部分，是内燃机在运输应用中的一个有吸引力的替代品。PEM燃料电池提供零本地排放、快速启动和使用可再生能源（如风能和太阳能）产生的清洁氢气。然而，PEM燃料电池在加拿大的广泛采用目前受到高成本和有限寿命的阻碍，主要源于膜电极组件（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.建立了一个新的合作伙伴关系，通过非原位和操作成像、电化学性能表征和传输特性分析来阐明离子单体的磺化降解和铂催化剂位点的覆盖。特别是，这项工作将采用扫描透射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提供信息。这项工作的方法和结果将对更广泛的电化学能量转换领域产生重大影响，其中基于MEA的技术，如PEM电解槽和二氧化碳电解槽，将受益于强大的MEA的发展，这些MEA能够抵抗离聚体降解和反应位点覆盖。该研究团队将通过出版物、会议演示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导地位的增长。

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.