In the quest to reach zero emissions by 2050, researchers are working with industry partners to develop more efficient, durable, cost-effective fuel cells.
Waterloo engineering professor Dr. Xianguo Li and Dr. Samaneh Shahgaldi from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), with support from Niobay Metals and Mitacs, are working to refine the technology of metallic bipolar plates to improve the potential of hydrogen in decarbonization.
"One sector that is really difficult to decarbonize is transport," said Li, leader of the University of Waterloo’s Fuel Cell and Green Energy Laboratory and editor-in-chief for the International Journal of Green Energy. “So, we are investigating metallic materials that have high mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity, and can be made much, much thinner than traditional materials.”
The vital ingredient needed to make these materials is niobium, a naturally occurring grey crystalline metal that is classified as a technology-critical element with stability that makes it useful for rocket and jet engines.
The teams’ research, supported by the Mitacs Accelerate program, aims at improving the efficiency of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (or PEMFC), which is a key technology for climate change mitigation. To reach their potential, however, these power systems must become smaller and lighter.
The CEO of Niobay Metals, Jean-Sebastien David, said the researchers’ findings demonstrate the power of niobium to improve green technologies, and underline the importance of mining these technology-critical elements here in Canada.
Go to Building green tech one metallic layer at a time for the full story.