Rational Heterogeneity of Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Next-Generation Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (HETEROMEA)

下一代聚合物电解质燃料电池膜电极组件的合理异质性（HETEROMEA）

• 批准号: EP/X023656/1
• 负责人: Thomas Miller
• 金额: $ 83.06万
• 依托单位: University College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX023656%2F1
• 关键词: Rational; Heterogeneity; Membrane; Electrode; Assemblies

Fuel cell technologies suffer from key cost, efficiency and degradation issues that must be resolved before they can reach their full commercial potential. Unfortunately many of the limitations of current polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technologies are introduced, or exacerbated, by the current design of their membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Homogeneously constructed MEAs (i.e. the industrially standard) suffer from heterogeneity in the distribution of current, pressure, reactant concentration, water distribution and temperature, leading to numerous unintended gradients across the fuel cell which act to heterogeneously utilise, and therefore degrade, catalysts, their supports and ion conducting membranes. In HETEROMEA, we will characterise and understand the impact of intrinsic heterogeneity on MEA performance and durability. This understanding will be used to inform the design and implementation of material heterogeneously within next-generation MEAs, to 'smooth out' inefficient gradients and produce a homogeneous distribution of current, water, reactant partial pressure in operational PEMFCs; i.e. we will produce MEAs where the constituents (including e.g. Pt, ionomer, porosity, membrane) are intelligently distributed inhomogeneously, mitigating performance and durability losses. This will be enabled via the utilisation of robotic ultrasonic spray printing, a tool that allows flexible but precise control over material loading and distribution. HETEROMEA will therefore deliver a significant improvement in catalyst utilisation, mass transport resistance, charge transfer resistance and flooding, while using a standard range of industry-relevant fuel cell materials (e.g. commercial catalysts).

燃料电池技术面临关键的成本、效率和退化问题，必须解决这些问题才能充分发挥其商业潜力。不幸的是，当前聚合物电解质膜燃料电池（PEMFC）技术的许多局限性是由于其膜电极组件（MEA）的当前设计而引入或加剧的。均质构造的 MEA（即工业标准）在电流、压力、反应物浓度、水分布和温度分布方面存在不均匀性，导致燃料电池中出现许多意想不到的梯度，这些梯度会不均匀地利用催化剂，从而降解催化剂及其性能。支持物和离子传导膜。在 HETEROMEA 中，我们将描述并了解内在异质性对 MEA 性能和耐用性的影响。这种理解将用于指导下一代 MEA 内异质材料的设计和实施，以“平滑”低效梯度并在运行的 PEMFC 中产生电流、水、反应物分压的均匀分布；也就是说，我们将生产成分（包括铂、离聚物、孔隙率、膜）智能地不均匀分布的 MEA，从而减轻性能和耐久性损失。这将通过利用机器人超声波喷涂印刷来实现，该工具可以灵活但精确地控制材料装载和分配。因此，HETEROMEA 将在催化剂利用率、传质阻力、电荷转移阻力和溢流方面取得显着改善，同时使用一系列标准的行业相关燃料电池材料（例如商用催化剂）。