Grant: Alliance Grants

In 2020, Canada laid out its Hydrogen Strategy to "cement hydrogen as a tool to achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and position Canada as a global, industrial leader of clean renewable fuels." Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed by hydrogen fuel are considered to be at the forefront of technologies for zero-emissions vehicles, especially heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses and trains. At present, hydrogen-fed proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) light-duty vehicles are commercially produced. However, for wider adoption and expansion to heavy-duty vehicles, the cost and durability of PEMFCs must be significantly improved by reducing the use of expensive platinum and minimizing the loss of platinum surface area over time. Platinum dissolution is responsible for the loss of active surface area and, as a result, a decrease in fuel cell durability. The dissolution process is affected by its local environment leading to different degradation rates at inlet and outlet of the fuel cell. The aim of this project is to develop a micro-kinetic model to predict Pt dissolution, and to integrate it into an along the channel model to predict the most critical locations for Pt dissolution. Fundamental experiments using a novel solid-state cell and inkjet printed graded electrodes will be undertaken to validate the computational model. The main outcome of the research will be the creation of advanced computational models with ability to predict performance over the entire lifetime of fuel cell stacks, which will then be used to: (i) design and operate next-generation, durable PEMFCs stacks, and (ii) identify the durability bottlenecks. Fuel cell companies aiming at commercializing fuel cell technologies in Canada will benefit from the fundamental knowledge and modeling tools developed and from the highly qualified personnel who will be recruited and trained during this project.