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Improving Fuel Cells

Learn how to improve fuel cell performance by coating porous graphite with nickel and alkene wax, enhancing efficiency and marketability. Research methods, benchmarks, and challenges are discussed in detail.

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Improving Fuel Cells

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  1. Improving Fuel Cells Alfie Davis, Sophia Kea, Eric Kwon, Nhu Nguyen

  2. Objective • Produce a bipolar fuel cell from porous graphite, with nickel deposited on one side and medium chain alkene wax on the other, that has high enough performance to be marketable. ***adding a layer of nickel to plug up graphite pores and reduce the permeability rate of hydrogen, reduces time to impregnate w/ wax **Saturating w/ wax can take ~month w/o Nickel

  3. Background • Fuel Cell: converts fuel into electrical energy via reaction. • Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells : a polymer electrolyte membrane placed between an anode and cathode. • Bipolar Plate: connector between individual fuel cells to create fuel cell stacks. Picture reference: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00361

  4. Benchmarks **Resistivity of usual fuel cell bipoles, and what values are required Hydrogen gas permeability of injected wax • Maximum of 2x10-6 cm3 H2/cm2-s • High gas permeability decreases fuel cell efficiency and lifetime Tensile strength • Greater than 41 MPa *Instron

  5. Methods Electroplating • Aqueous Nickel solution • Using a galvanostat • Plating time < 1 hour Wax Impregnation • Medium chain alkene wax • Temperature > 100°C

  6. Methods Reference electrode Electroplating • Aqueous Nickel solution • Using a galvanostat • Plating time < 1 hour Wax Impregnation • Medium chain alkene wax • Temperature > 100°C

  7. Methods Counter electrode Reference electrode Electroplating • Aqueous Nickel solution • Using a galvanostat • Plating time < 1 hour Wax Impregnation • Medium chain alkene wax • Temperature > 100°C

  8. Wax Impregnating Apparatus • Wax maintained at >100°C • Insulation used to maintain temperature • Inner apparatus to hold the bipole in place and allow flow around the bipole • Temperature probe attached to the inner apparatus to record temperature closest to bipole

  9. Plating Inconsistencies *First sample was great, all downhill from there (for the most part) *Picture of good samples (sample 1) *Picture of poorly plated for example *Working to achieve consistent plating, details are undisclosable

  10. Thank you for listening! Any questions?

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