To make fuel cell-powered heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles a viable alternative to traditional combustion engine vehicles, we need fuel cells that are more efficient and durable. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have created a groundbreaking technique to examine and comprehend how different components of fuel cells deteriorate over time. This development is a significant advancement toward enhancing fuel cell performance and boosting their commercial viability.
Hydrogen is an increasingly appealing fuel choice for heavy-duty vehicles. Vehicles that run on hydrogen produce only water vapor as exhaust, and if the hydrogen is generated using renewable resources, there are zero carbon dioxide emissions involved. Unlike electric vehicles powered by batteries, hydrogen vehicles do not impose a load on the electricity grid since hydrogen can be produced and stored when electricity costs are low. Certain hydrogen vehicles utilize a technology known as fuel cells for propulsion. However, the usefulness of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles is hindered by their relatively limited lifespan, stemming from wear and tear on components like electrodes and membranes over time. The recent study targets this challenge.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have devised a novel way to investigate the effects of aging on fuel cells by monitoring a particular particle within the fuel cell as it operates. The research team disassembled an entire fuel cell at regular intervals to study deterioration. They employed advanced electron microscopy techniques to observe how the cathode electrode deteriorates in specific areas over various usage cycles. Prior research focused on “half-cells,” which represent only a portion of a fuel cell and were studied in significantly different conditions from actual fuel cells.
Enhanced Insights Through a New Experimental Approach
“It was previously thought that the fuel cell’s performance would decline due to the disassembly and analysis process we employed, but surprisingly, this assumption was incorrect,” notes research leader Björn Wickman, an Associate Professor in Chalmers’ Department of Physics.
The researchers successfully examined how the material in the fuel cell breaks down at both the micro and nano levels, determining precisely when and where degradation happens. This insight is crucial for the development of new fuel cells that are longer lasting.
“Transitioning from only assessing the aging of the fuel cell post-usage to observing it during its operational phase was groundbreaking,” explains doctoral student Linnéa Strandberg at Chalmers. “By focusing on a single particle in a defined area, we gained a much clearer understanding of the degradation processes. This deeper knowledge is vital for creating new materials for fuel cells or adjusting their operational controls.”
New Techniques Leading to More Durable Fuel Cells
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has emphasized that extending fuel cell lifespans is one of the most crucial objectives for making hydrogen vehicles commercially successful. Industry standards dictate that a truck should navigate 20,000 to 30,000 hours in its lifecycle, a benchmark that current hydrogen fuel cell trucks cannot meet.
“We have now established a foundation for developing superior fuel cells. Our enhanced understanding of the processes within the fuel cell and their timing throughout its lifetime will allow us to design and examine new materials aimed at extending the fuel cell’s lifespan,” states Björn Wickman.
How a Fuel Cell Functions: Key Facts
A fuel cell’s core consists of three active layers, including two electrodes — an anode and a cathode — separated by an ion-conducting membrane. Each cell generates approximately 1 volt of electricity. Catalyst materials reside within the electrodes, where hydrogen and oxygen are introduced. This electrochemical reaction produces clean water and electricity, which can be harnessed to power a vehicle.
Research Team Details:
The Chalmers research team behind this innovative method includes doctoral student Linnéa Strandberg, Associate Professor Björn Wickman, Victor Shokhen (a former postdoc), and Professor Magnus Skoglundh from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
This project received financial backing from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and the Swedish Research Council, and it was conducted within the Competence Centre for Catalysis, supported by Chalmers University of Technology and funded by the Swedish Energy Agency along with member companies including Johnson Matthey, Perstorp, Powercell, Preem, Scania CV, Umicore, and Volvo Group.
Advanced scanning and transmission electron microscopy were carried out at Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory (CMAL).
