Design of new catalytic materials for low-temperature fuel cells

• development of a compact planar fuel cell assembly and corresponding fuel storage units for powering portable devices
• development of an innovative system for hydrogen production from alternative biocompatible fuels through experimental and virtual testing, as well as optimization methods
• determination of the thermal conductivity of membranes as a function of temperature within the operating range of fuel cells, and theoretical modelling of the experimental results
• the determination of the optimal degree of sulfonation (DS) of sulfonated poly(ether–ether–ketone) (SPEEK) is based on comprehensive characterization, including proton conductivity, swelling, water uptake, chemical and thermal stability, mechanical properties, and performance in PEM fuel cells
• the development and optimization of hydrogen storage and compression materials focused on various metal alloys and composites, aiming for low hydrogen absorption-desorption hysteresis, excellent charge/discharge kinetics, and long cycle life