Topic: Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Technology Status
Speaker: Dario R. Dekel, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM, November 15
Venue: Room 409, Main Building, Shahe Campus
Abstract：
Anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) is a type of alkaline fuel cell that uses an anion exchange membrane to separate the anode and cathode compartments. AEMFCs have attracted significant interest recently due to their potential advantages over current technology based on proton-exchange membranes (PEMs). The high-pH environment of AEMFCs enhances oxygen reduction reaction kinetics and also enables the use of low-cost Pt-free catalysts and bipolar plate materials. It also exhibits lower fuel crossover thanks to the use of hydrocarbon based anion exchange membranes.
In this lecture, Prof. Dekel provides an overview on AEMFCs technology status and his recent research on AEMFC stability. The challenges of state-of-the-art AEMFC techs lie on electrocatalysts and the operation with CO2. With the use of Pt-free catalysts, both oxygen reduction reaction in cathode and hydrogen oxidation reaction in anode can limit cell performance. Besides, if the AEM in OH－ form is exposed to ambient air containing CO2, OH－ anions will be rapidly replaced by bicarbonate HCO3－ and carbonate CO32－ anions, which will cause a decrease in the anion conductivity.
Biography of the Speaker：
Dario R. Dekel is a professor of Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, where he received his Doctoral degree in 1998. He has served in CellEra Inc. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. His research interest lies in the electrochemical technology based on polyelectrolyte membrane, including fuel cells and their applications in the automotive market (e.g., the development of electrocatalysts, polyelectrolyte materials, membranes, electrodes and fuel cells ) and the development and testing of electrochemical devices (application of alkaline polyelectrolyte in electrolytic cells, flow batteries and direct liquid fuel cells).
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