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Title: Corrugated Membrane Fuel Cell Structures

Abstract

One of the most challenging aspects of traditional PEM fuel cell stacks is the difficulty achieving the platinum catalyst utilization target of 0.2 gPt/kWe set forth by the DOE. Good catalyst utilization can be achieved with state-of-the-art catalyst coated membranes (CCM) when low catalyst loadings (<0.3 mg/cm2) are used at a low current. However, when low platinum loadings are used, the peak power density is lower than conventional loadings, requiring a larger total active area and a larger bipolar plate. This results in a lower overall stack power density not meeting the DOE target. By corrugating the fuel cell membrane electrode structure, Ion Power?s goal is to realize both the Pt utilization targets as well as the power density targets of the DOE. This will be achieved by demonstrating a fuel cell single cell (50 cm2) with a twofold increase in the membrane active area over the geometric area of the cell by corrugating the MEA structure. The corrugating structure must be able to demonstrate the target properties of < 10 mOhm-cm2 electrical resistance at > 20 psi compressive strength over the active area, in combination with offering at least 80% of power density that can be achieved by usingmore » the same MEA in a flat plate structure. Corrugated membrane fuel cell structures also have the potential to meet DOE power density targets by essentially packaging more membrane area into the same fuel cell volume as compared to conventional stack constructions.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. President, Ion Power Inc.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ion Power Inc.
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE EE Office of Fuel Cell Technologies (EE-2H)
Contributing Org.:
Graftech International Holdings Inc., Parma, OH General Motors Corporation, Flint, MI
OSTI Identifier:
1095120
Report Number(s):
DOE-IonPower-0000462
DOE Contract Number:  
EE0000462
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
08 HYDROGEN

Citation Formats

Grot, Stephen. Corrugated Membrane Fuel Cell Structures. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.2172/1095120.
Grot, Stephen. Corrugated Membrane Fuel Cell Structures. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1095120
Grot, Stephen. 2013. "Corrugated Membrane Fuel Cell Structures". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1095120. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1095120.
@article{osti_1095120,
title = {Corrugated Membrane Fuel Cell Structures},
author = {Grot, Stephen},
abstractNote = {One of the most challenging aspects of traditional PEM fuel cell stacks is the difficulty achieving the platinum catalyst utilization target of 0.2 gPt/kWe set forth by the DOE. Good catalyst utilization can be achieved with state-of-the-art catalyst coated membranes (CCM) when low catalyst loadings (<0.3 mg/cm2) are used at a low current. However, when low platinum loadings are used, the peak power density is lower than conventional loadings, requiring a larger total active area and a larger bipolar plate. This results in a lower overall stack power density not meeting the DOE target. By corrugating the fuel cell membrane electrode structure, Ion Power?s goal is to realize both the Pt utilization targets as well as the power density targets of the DOE. This will be achieved by demonstrating a fuel cell single cell (50 cm2) with a twofold increase in the membrane active area over the geometric area of the cell by corrugating the MEA structure. The corrugating structure must be able to demonstrate the target properties of < 10 mOhm-cm2 electrical resistance at > 20 psi compressive strength over the active area, in combination with offering at least 80% of power density that can be achieved by using the same MEA in a flat plate structure. Corrugated membrane fuel cell structures also have the potential to meet DOE power density targets by essentially packaging more membrane area into the same fuel cell volume as compared to conventional stack constructions.},
doi = {10.2172/1095120},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1095120}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}