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Ionomer Dispersion Impact on Advanced Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Performance and Durability

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-SC0012049
Agency Tracking Number: 212720
Amount: $149,949.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: 09b
Solicitation Number: DE-FOA-0001046
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2014-06-09
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-03-08
Small Business Information
89 Rumford Avenue
Newton, MA 02466-1311
United States
DUNS: 066594979
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Hui Xu
 Dr.
 () -
 hxu@ginerinc.com
Business Contact
 Anthony Vaccaro
Title: Dr.
Phone: (781) 529-0504
Email: avaccaro@ginerinc.com
Research Institution
 Los Almos National Laboratory
 
P.O.Box 1663 Mail Stop D-429
Los Alamos, NM 87545-
United States

 () -
 Federally Funded R&D Center (FFRDC)
Abstract

The ionomer dispersion technology invented at LANL has demonstrated great potential to significantly improve the lifetime of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells via accelerated stress tests. However, more validation and improvements are needed to make this technology commercially viable for PEM fuel cell-based hydrogen vehicles. The overall project is to further improve and validate this ionomer dispersion technology under more practical fuel cell conditions. The ionomer dispersion technology will be combined with dimension-stabilized membrane (DSM) technology to create more durable membranes and membrane and electrode assemblies for PEM fuel cell and electrolyzers. Low equivalent weight (EW) ionomers will be dispersed using selected non-aqueous solvents. The ionomer dispersions will be incorporated into porous matrix to make DSMs and mixed with the catalysts to make electrodes. The resulted membrane and electrode assemblies will be evaluated for both fuel cells and electrolyzers under more practical operating conditions. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The successful completion of this project will improve the durability and performance of PEM fuel cells, significantly reducing the cost of hydrogen vehicles. This will lead to a widespread deployment of hydrogen vehicles, which will relieve the nation heavy dependence on imported oil and reduce air pollutants.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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