Project description
Sustainable materials for efficient hydrogen fuel cells
Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean solution, as they generate electricity without emissions. These fuel cells rely on proton exchange membranes (PEMs) coated with catalyst layers to work efficiently. However, the chemicals currently used in these membranes may be banned due to environmental concerns, prompting the need for safer alternatives. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PIMIonFuelCell project will develop new materials called aromatic hydrocarbon polymers with intrinsic microporosity. These polymers are highly durable and permeable, improving fuel cell performance. The project focuses on creating optimised catalyst-coated membranes to enhance efficiency and help fuel cells become a more sustainable energy source.
Objective
Vehicular transportation is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Hydrogen fuel cells, comprising of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) coated with catalyst layers (CLs) and sandwiched between gas diffusion layers, generate electrical energy with high efficiency and zero emission. The concern regarding a potential ban by the European Union on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl-type ‘forever chemicals’ that are currently used as PEMs and CL ionomers prompts us to seek sustainable alternatives, such as aromatic hydrocarbons (AH).
Significant progress has been made to use AHs as PEMs, due to their excellent thermal stability and eco-friendly synthesis. However, presently the specific adsorption of aromatic constituents on the noble metal catalyst and low gas permeability in the CL causes a performance penalty, thus aggravating the use of AHs as catalyst ionomer.
The aim of this project is to address these issues by developing a new class of catalyst ionomers based on AH polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). AH PIMs are expected to improve FC performance: as highly gas permeable ionomer in the CL, they facilitate chemical reactions and improve interfacial compatibility between CLs and PEM.
Using chemically durable polyphenylenes as scaffold we propose to synthesize a range of AH PIMs with enhanced gas permeability and chemical durability (objective 1-2, University of Yamanashi). Catalyst ink formulations will be prepared and coated on both sides of best-in-class AH-based PEMs to obtain catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) with optimized morphology, electrochemical surface area, electrochemical activity and ionic conductivity (objective 3-4). Finally, the performance and durability of the novel CCMs will be evaluated in the single fuel cell at University of Freiburg (objective 5). This project will contribute to the increased market penetration of the fuel cell technology and to the realisation of a more sustainable society.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
79098 Freiburg
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.