Novel fuel cell materials and designs for high performance

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are a promising solution to addressing climate change, as they can produce emission free energy on demand using hydrogen as fuel. Despite their benefits, many challenges remain in the way of widespread commercialization of these devices. Specifically, components such as the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst coated membrane (CCM) suffer from poor mass transport and durability issues. These components must be designed for durability and improved transport properties to become commercially viable. To address these challenges, we propose to apply both pore network modelling and advanced electrochemical characterization techniques to reveal the mechanisms responsible for degradation in the performance of the GDL and CCM. The insights gained from this collaborative work with Prof. Auvity will inform the design of next-generation fuel cell porous media for clean energy applications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Aimy Bazylak

Student:

Partner:

Université de Nantes

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: