2023-06-27 ロスアラモス国立研究所(LANL)
◆特に溝付き電極の設計進歩が注目され、これによって次世代の燃料電池技術が最適化され、排出ゼロの中・大型輸送に活用できる可能性が示されました。
◆この技術は、従来の商業化された素材を異なる構成で組み合わせることで実現され、マイクロスケールのアーキテクチャの変更が大幅な性能向上につながったとされています。今後は製造技術の研究開発を進め、効率的かつ低コストな製造方法による大規模展開を目指す予定です。
＜関連情報＞
高出力密度燃料電池のための溝付き電極 Grooved electrodes for high-power-density fuel cells
ChungHyuk Lee,Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp,Haoran Yu,David A. Cullen,Brian M. Patterson,Tanvir Alam Arman,Siddharth Komini Babu,Rangachary Mukundan,Rod L. Borup & Jacob S. Spendelow
Nature Energy Published:25 May 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01263-2
Abstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are leading candidates to decarbonize the transport sector, but widespread deployment will require improvements in lifetime, fuel economy and cost. Here we present the grooved electrode, an alternative electrode structure that enhances PEMFC performance and durability by coupling high ionomer (ion-conducting binder) content for improved H+ transport with grooves for rapid O2 transport. Grooved electrodes provide up to 50% higher performance than state-of-the-art conventional electrodes under standard operating conditions. Fuel cell diagnostics combined with multiphysics modelling demonstrate that grooved electrodes provide facile O2 transport despite their high ionomer content, enabling improved reaction rate uniformity. Grooved electrodes also provide improved durability, with less performance loss after carbon corrosion compared with baseline electrodes. Machine learning analysis demonstrates the potential to further optimize grooved structures for next-generation PEMFCs with enhanced performance and durability, enabling smaller and cheaper fuel cell stacks with higher fuel efficiency.
