Projects

Diminishing fossil fuel resources, simultaneously increasing energy demands, and the steadily rising awareness of the fatal environmental impact of the current energy use drive worldwide efforts in energy research. In this realm, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are being aggressively developed as promising alternative power sources for portable, vehicular, and stationary devices because of their high thermodynamic efficiencies and energy densities. Water is the lifeblood of such cells; it is the primary chemical product of the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen and it is the operating fluid that electrolyte and electrode layers need in order to conduct protons and facilitate electrochemical reactions. Poor water management can reduce the power density by 30-50%, cause failure and compromise the lifetime of PEFC. Water management is therefore the cohesive challenge that links processes in all materials and at all scales. The PEM-Ca-D research network on micro water management in PEFC, founded in 2008, is a comprehensive effort to address this challenge. It combines the strengths of scientists from 10 leading German and Canadian research institutes and universities in advanced materials fabrication and characterization, modern imaging and visualization, electrochemical diagnostics, and engineering. The objectives are to improve the design of materials and cells and optimize the engineering control of fuel cell operation. Collaboration between partner institutions is enhanced by exchange of students and scientists.The research network PEM-Ca-D is a collaboration that is funded by the German Federal Ministery for Education and Science (BMBF).