Program: Mechanical Modeling of PEM Stack in Support of Failure Analysis

Sponsor: UTC Power

Accomplishments:Developed accelerated testing and life prediction approach for PEM fuel cells

PI: K Reifsnider, X Huang

Program: Effects of Impurities on Fuel Cell Performance & Durability

Sponsor: DOE

Expected Outcomes:Determine the effects of various contaminants on PEM fuel cell performance and durability for the transportation and stationary arenas

PI: T Molter, Current Participants: X Huang, U Pasaogullari, S Suib, M Aindow

Program: SGER: Carbon Supported Non Noble Metal ElectrocatalystsBased on Macrocyclical Compounds

Sponsor: NSF

Expected Outcomes:1) Develop nano-structured non-noble metal catalysts2) Develop PEM fuel cells based on synthesized catalysts

PI: A Smirnova

Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Ca

rbon

Sup

port

Carbon Support

Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Ca

rbon

Sup

port

Carbon Support

A B

Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Ca

rbon

Sup

port

Carbon Support

Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Cl1 Cl2Ca

rbon

Sup

port

Carbon Support

A B

Program: Alternative Carbon NanotubeSupported Platinum Catalysts

Sponsor: Mystic MD

Accomplishments:1) Good catalyst performance at lowPt loading2) High limiting current3) Superior stability under air-air start (severe carbon corrosion) conditions4) Improved controls for electrode morphology & support surface chemistry

PI: X Huang

Various Testing Programs: Sponsors:1) Fabrication & Testing of PEM FC with Alternative Low Pt Loading Cathode FuelCell Energy

2) Testing of Catalysts for PEMFC Applications Using Rotating Disk Electrodes UTC Power

3) Testing Porous All Metal Flow Field Mott Corp.

4) Fuel Cell Advanced Product Water Removal and Management Infinity Fuel Cell & Hydrogen

5) Development of PEM Testing Device FuelCell Energy

PI’s: (1) Xinyu Huang, (2) Alla Smirnova, (3, 4, 5) Trent Molter

Program: Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Portable PEMFC’s

Sponsor: Design-By-Analysis

Accomplishments:1) Analyzed transport phenomena & electro-chemical kinetics for portable FCs2) Recommendations made to improve H2O mgmt strategies

PI: U Pasaogullari

Program: Specialty Coatings Development for Bipolar Plates

Sponsor: Tanury Industries

Accomplishments:Screened advanced PVD coatings based on corrosion, contact resistance, simulated endurance test results

PI: K Reifsnider, X Huang

PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS

Durability & Performance

Prediction

Materials & Nano-Structures Component Characterization, Design & Testing

CNT Polarization

0.000.100.200.300.400.500.600.700.800.901.00

0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00

Current Density (mA/cm2)

Pote

ntia

l (V)

BeforeAfter 20After 40

HH 22 2H2H ++ + 2e+ 2e --HH 22 2H2H ++ + 2e+ 2e --

2H2H ++ + O+ O 22 +4e+4e-- 2H2H 22OO

AnodeAnode CathodeCathode

HH ++

AnodeAnode CathodeCathode

HH ++HH ++

Cathode catalyst structure

anode PEM cathode

4 H+

O2

2 H2

2 H2O

4 e-

CO

NH3

H2S

Trace Metals

Formic Acid

Hydro-carbons

SO2

NO2

Dust

Ocean salt

Chlorides

Proton

Exchange

Membrane

TPB TPB

anode PEM cathode

4 H+

O2

2 H2

2 H2O

4 e-

CO

NH3

H2S

Trace Metals

Formic Acid

Hydro-carbons

SO2

NO2

Dust

Ocean salt

Chlorides

Proton

Exchange

Membrane

TPB TPB

Analysis & Diagnostic Methods