Overview:

In this two-day course, participants will learn the essentials making and characterizing state-of-the-art membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) that are the heart of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.  Experts will provide background on the theory of fuel cells and will guide participants through hands-on MEA fabrication and testing.   Participants will fabricate MEAs using Nafion and alkaline membranes, ELAT gas diffusion layers, solubilized ionomers, and Johnson-Matthey catalysts supplied in the course, or they may use their own catalysts and/or membranes.  Each participant will make two or more MEAs using the catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) technique, gas diffusion layer painting, and hot pressing.  They will use their MEAs to acquire fuel cell polarization curves, CO stripping voltammograms, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) data.  Each participant will operate an individual fuel cell test station controlled by an EZstat Pro 1E potentiostat/galvanostat with EIS capabilities.  Experts will assist participants in the analysis of their data

Hands-on activities

• Catalysts ink preparation with Johnson Matthey or attendee-supplied catalyst.
• Use of temperature controlled vacuum table for MEA fabrication by CCM technique.
• Painting of ELAT GDL followed by hot pressing to membrane.
• Fuel cell assembly, instrumentation, and flow manifold training.
• Acquisition of half- & full-cell polarization curves, stripping voltammograms and EIS data.
• Instructor-guided analysis of acquired data.

Lecture topics and materials

• Overview of membrane electrode assembly structure and function
• Data analysis sessions
• Course content CD-ROM provided upon registration

Harry Rivera,
Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon Campus

Harry Rivera is director and co-founder of the Technology and Education Center for Renewable Energy (TECRE). The non-profit corporation is located and integrated with the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Rivera obtained his Bachelor of Science (BS) and Ph.D in Chemistry at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, in 2001 and 2008 respectively.  His thesis work focused on transport properties of polymer electrolytes in operating direct methanol fuel cells.  His current research focuses on catalyst ripening at the anode and cathode of hydrogen air fuel cells.  Dr. Rivera has coordinated several workshops in Puerto Rico and is developing continuing education courses for practicing engineers in Puerto Rico

Eugene S. Smotkin,
Northeastern University

Eugene S. Smotkin obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Austin in 1989. After postdoc positions at the University of Hawaii and at Argonne National Laboratories, he became an assistant professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1992. He is now a Professor of Chemistry at Northeastern University. His areas of research include electrocatalysis, reaction engineering and operando x-ray and vibrational spectroscopy of catalytic surfaces. Eugene is also widely recognized for his work in high throughput catalyst characterization. He founded NuVant Systems Inc. in 1999.

Michele Tague
NuVant Systems Inc.

Dr. Tague obtained her Ph.D. from Cornell University under the direction of Héctor Abruña. Her thesis work focused on high-throughput screening of fuel cell electrocatalysts using a fluorescence assay. Her current research is focused on polymer electrolyte degradation processes for PEM and alkaline fuel cells. Dr. Tague is benchmarking FTIR, TGA and MS and electrochemical methodologies for study of membrane electrode assembly degradation processes.