Improved lifetime of automotive application fuel cells with ultra low Pt-loading

IMPACT
Framework Programme: 
FP7
Call for proposals: 
2011
Application area: 
Transport and refuelling infrastructure
Project Pillar: 
Transport

The main objective of the planned project IMPACT is to increase the life-time of fuel cells with membrane-electrode assemblies containing ultra low Pt-loading (< 0.2 mg cm-2) for automotive applications. The economic requirements to reduce Pt loading leads to the challenge to maintain durability and performance, an aspect which has not been addressed sufficiently in public projects and studies. A durability of 5000 h under dynamic operation conditions with ultra low loading is envisioned for automotive applications. IMPACT aims at improving significantly durability in the automotive application at reduced PGM loadings by material development and MEA development. Development ist performed on the main components of the cell, namely the membrane, the gas diffusion media and the electrodes. The basis for the durability is extensive testing at the industrial and research partner`s facilities under diverse and highly dynamic conditions and comprehensive and detailed analysis and evaluation of degradation processes and their importance for fuel cell performance loss. This analysis is utilized for the derivation of mitigation strategies by component modification and optimization of operation modes. The mitigation strategies are experimentally validated and consecutively lead to a demonstration of the improved durability in an predefined stack. IMPACT also aims at providing a cost analysis and an evaluation of the technical feasibility for large scale utilization of the project achievements. Recommendation and dissemination activities are planed within scientific workshops, publication of the results in scientific journals, and using project fact sheets.

Project reference: 
303452
Topic: 
SP1-JTI-FCH.2011.1.5 - Next generation European MEAs for transportation applications and SP1-JTI-FCH.2011.1.6 - Investigation of degradation phenomena
Project type: 
Research and technological development
Contract type: 
Collaborative Project
Start date: 
Thursday, November 1, 2012
End date: 
Monday, October 31, 2016
Duration: 
42 months (originally), extended to 48 months
Project cost: 
€ 9,144,498
Project funding: 
€ 3,902,403
Coordinator: 

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Contact: 
Prof. K. Andreas Friedrich
Contact email: 
Other participating organisations: 
Organisation Country
Commissariat à  l'Energie Atomique (CEA) France
JRC - Joint Research Centre,European Commission Belgium
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Italy
ITM Power United Kingdom
Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited United Kingdom
Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) Germany
University of Applied Sciences Esslingen Germany
TU Berlin Germany
Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse France
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Korea
Solvay Specialty Polymers Italy S.p.A. Italy

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