Title:

Mechanics of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Speaker:

Ms. Meredith Silberstein

Affiliation:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

When:

Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11:00:00 AM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Dr. Rhett Mayor
rhett.mayor@me.gatech.edu
404-8940301

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells enable clean, efficient, and mobile conversion of fuel to electricity. A polymer electrolyte membrane at the core of these devices is responsible for conducting protons and preventing fuel crossover. This membrane undergoes significant mechanical loading due to hygrothermal cycling within a constrained environment. The current benchmark membrane, Nafion, is deficient for commercial applications. This talk will cover two major research thrusts: (1) analyzing the benchmark membrane in the fuel cell context and (2) designing a new membrane. First I will present a mechanical model for the coupled constitutive behavior of Nafion and application of this model in understanding and avoiding mechanical failure of the membrane within a fuel cell stack. Then I will present micromechanical modeling of non-woven electrospun mats and its use in the design of alternative polymer electrolyte membranes. In each case the microstructurally motivated model is shown to capture a range of experimental behavior and to provide insight into the governing physics.

Biography

Not available.