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

The requested Fuel Cell Test Station from NSERC-RTI is to support the applicant's new laboratory for fuel cell catalyst and membrane research. The requested infrastructure is CRITICAL for complete implementation of the research in the applicant's Discovery Grant. The requested high temperature PEM fuel cell test station, will allow the applicant to check the performance and durability of the advanced nanocatalysts and nanocomposite membrane based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) at low and high temperature. The applicant has set up the catalyst synthesis system, the rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) system, and the MEA fabrication equipment, and presently the high temperature PEM fuel cell test system is the bottle neck preventing advancement of the research program. The requested system will be used full time by the applicant and his students. The training of HQP is the fundamental purpose of university research, and is therefore one of the key aspects of the applicant's scientific program. The HQPs will receive extensive training in nanocatalyst synthesis, membrane fabrication, electrochemical and physical characterization, MEA fabrication and fuel cell testing. The outcome of Dr. Chen's research program is expected to contribute to the commercialization of the PEM fuel cells and the training of HQP for Canada. The applicant was appointed as an assistant professor at Waterloo in September 2008 and he received his first NSERC-individual Discovery Grant in 2009.