Enabling Deployment of Fuel Cells at Scale by Understanding Needs of Specific Applications through Advancements in Materials Durability and Integration

The Fuel Cells GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

We live in an unprecedented time of hydrogen deployment at scale. Many countries have pledged to decarbonize their economies by 2050 and hydrogen is essential to reach these net-zero emission goals. Fuel cells will be critical to decarbonize shipping, aviation, heavy duty transportation sectors and important for light duty vehicles and other stationary applications. For these applications durable fuel cells that operate at higher efficiencies and perhaps with catalyst loadings that are not as low, will be used, requiring specific material properties (novel support materials, durable catalysts and membranes). Interfaces within catalyst layers still raise critical questions and advanced characterization and multi-scale modeling have resolved some of these pertinent questions yet not everything is understood. Therefore, controlled experiments with well-defined interfaces are needed to better understand ionomer, water and other molecular modifiers interfaces with electrocatalysts. We have seen substantial advancement in membranes and ionomers in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells that allow operation at higher efficiencies, removing water management issues. As a community we will also explore PFAS alternatives within the fuel cells, as well as methods of recycling of catalysts and membrane/ionomers.

At this GRC, an international group of scientists and engineers from industry, academia, and national laboratories will present talks and posters that focus on cutting edge developments in fuel cell research with regards to membranes, catalyst materials and electrode architectures, modeling studies, system designs, and applications. Attendees will be engaged in constructive discussions and scientific exchanges that will stimulate new ideas and facilitate new collaborations aimed at identifying and solving next-generation issues.