Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The present application to NSERC-RTI is to support the acquisition of a Fuel Cells Experiment System, ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to carry out the applicants' innovative research projects. The requested test station will accelerate the projects on direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) currently held by the applicant, as well as will reinforce the present and future collaborations. The applicant has already a considerable amount of components to be tested, and presently the fuel cell testing is the bottle neck for further development of the components under investigation. The Fuel Cells Experiment System will be used to evaluate the fuel cells components under development (membranes, electrodes and their assemblies) in a real fuel cell environment.    The requested system will be used full time by the applicant and her students. The training of HQP is the fundamental purpose of university research, and is therefore one of the key aspects of the applicant scientific program. The HQPs will receive extensive training in electrochemical experimentation, fuel cells technology, and design of experiments; the experimental training of HQPs will be given directly by the applicant.    The outcome of Prof. Tavares research program is expected to contribute to a faster commercialization of the DMFCs systems.    The ElectroChem PS-CompucellTM Fuel Cell Test Station is the model chosen by the applicant. It is a complete and flexible system that fulfils all the applicants necessities. The price offered by ElectroChem Inc is 107,134.42 CAD (after taxes), which is rather competitive compared to other suppliers.    Ana Tavares is a new Professor at INRS-EMT in September 2005 and in 2006 the applicant was awarded with her first NSERC-individual Discovery Grant.