Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an innovative method that could significantly enhance the longevity of hydrogen fuel cells, potentially paving the way for more durable and commercially viable fuel cell-powered vehicles. This breakthrough is crucial for the future of heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles, as it addresses the degradation of fuel cell components over time, which has been a major barrier to their widespread adoption.
The research team introduced a novel technique for studying the aging of fuel cells by tracking specific particles within the cells during operation. By using advanced electron microscopes, they were able to follow how the cathode electrode degrades over time, providing detailed insights into the degradation process at both the nano and micro levels.
"It has previously been assumed that the performance would be affected by the fuel cell being disassembled and studied in the way we have done, but it turned out that this assumption is not correct, which is surprising," said Björn Wickman, Associate Professor at Chalmers University. This finding is a significant step toward developing new materials that could enhance the durability and performance of fuel cells.
Doctoral student Linnéa Strandberg added, “Being able to follow a single, chosen particle within a specific area provided a much better understanding of the degradation processes. Greater knowledge of these is an important step on the way to designing new materials for fuel cells or to adjust the control of the fuel cell.”
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has highlighted the importance of improving the lifetime of fuel cells to make hydrogen vehicles a viable alternative to traditional combustion engines. The insights gained from this research could play a critical role in achieving that goal.
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(Top image: Credit — Chalmers)
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