Research and development of innovative manufacturing technologies for hydrogen fuel cell production for green mobility

Fuel cells, as energy source, in particular Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), are one of the key enablers for complying with the Paris Declaration on Climate Change and other environmental and climate objectives, as they do not emit toxic emissions and therefore vastly contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, PEMFCs are considered to become the widespread energy source and storage solution and a key component in future hydrogen-based economy. They are thus enablers of more sustainable mobility, while with the increasing share of renewable energy sources, they are gaining on significance in different energy applications. One of the crucial approaches to tackle the challenges of tailoring PEMFC design to a specific application relies on development of bipolar plates – BPP, as well as on production technologies that are limiting the final fuel cell performance. Bipolar plates have significant importance and critical role in fuel cell stack. In order to ensure acceptable level of fuel cell power output and a long stack lifetime, BPPS must exhibit excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical and chemical stability in acidic (pH 2-3) and oxygen-rich environment. Therefore, due to the need for chemical and electrochemical stability, the microstructure, surface and subsurface integrity of the metalbased BPPs, and the manufacturing process of BPP, to ensure appropriate geometry and distribution of flow field channels, are the three primary challenges to overcome in order to achieve exemplary performance of the PEMFC. The community thus faces an unusual challenge in the development and production of titanium BPP for PEMFC, where the desired geometry and surface integrity of BPP, while maintaining other properties, has not been achieved. Additionally, the appropriate BPP design as well as suitable manufacturing process have not been identified. Thus, there is a significant need for research to identify manufacturing processes and their parameters in correlation to fuel cell working models and their efficient use of resources, to achieve higher fuel cell performance. In order to make a clear progress beyond the state-of-the-art, the main objective of the proposed postdoctorial project focuses on significant investigation, development and research of the innovative manufacturing process and surface modification technique used to prepare titanium BPP for enhanced performance as well as extended lifetime of the PEMFC. Project thus represents a leapfrog that efficiently contributes to the development of fuel cells and bipolar plates focusing on their innovative manufacturing technologies, as well as a surface modification techniques, thus addressing some of the key research areas. Innovative contribution of the project will contribute to development of sustainable automotive and industrial applications using developed state-of-the-art manufacturing processes.