Fuel Cell Membrane Measurement System for Manufacturing

Before fuel cells will be adopted by the automotive market, the cost of proton exchange membrane (PEM) materials must be reduced through improved manufacturing quality control and quality assurance. In particular, tools and standard protocols are needed to measure keystone membrane properties: conductivity and fuel permeability. This project will develop a robust, simple membrane measurement system and test protocol to support fuel cell membrane manufacturing operations. Analytical instrumentation and electrical/electrochemical diagnostic techniques will be developed to produce a membrane measurement tool that will provide reliable, accurate, and rapid assessment of the conductivity and fuel permeability of membrane materials in a high-volume production environment. In Phase I, technical feasbility of the membrane manufacturing measurement technology will be demonstrated by: (1) establishing the functional requirements (specifications) of the measurement tool; (2) developing and evaluating a prototype test system, including the electrode design and membrane property measurement techniques; and (3) developing a preliminary test protocol by evaluating the principle factors that influence measurement of these keystone membrane properties. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Improved membrane film manufacturing should reduce the cost of fuel cell membrane materials and speed market entry into the crucial but highly cost-sensitive automotive market.