Henrik Grimler

My research is about anion-exchange membrane fuel cells. If our society is to be able to work with an energy system based with energy from green sources, then we need fuel cell stacks since they can be integrated in systems where hydrogen is the energy carrier. The fuel cells stacks can be used for several purposes, such as vehicle propulsion and electricity production and heat production.

Fuel cell stacks can be purchased today, but it is desired to lower their cost. One way to accomplish this is to change the chemical environment from acidic (pH < 7) to basic (pH > 7). This makes it possible to use other, potentially cheaper, catalysts. These type of fuel cells are called anion-exchange membrane fuel cells, and in my research I am investigating the limitations of this type of fuel cell. I have investigated the values of the catalyst's kinetic parameters (which gives a measurement of quick the reactions can happen, with that catalyst), and investigated the anion-exchange membrane's ability to transport water from one side to the other. Water is produced when the fuel cell stack is used, but only at the catalyst on one side of the membrane. It is important that this water transport is quick enough, to avoid one side getting to dry, and the other side flooded.

In the studies experiments have been done, on small scale, and the results have thereafter been compared to the results of theoretical models. Through this modelling parameter values can be obtained, and we can get a better grasp of what is actually going on inside our fuel cells.