Plasma Treatment to Enhance Fuel Cell Water Management Project

Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

This proposal builds on preliminary work, performed in 2012, which demonstrated that plasma treatment methods can effectively modify the wetting characteristics of various porous metal structures. Such structures are critical to the two-phase fluid separation processes used in non-flow-through fuel cells and static feed electrolyzers. Optimization of these structures is the key to achieving dramatic reductions in the complexity and mass of regenerative fuel cells (RFCs). The objective of this proposal is to further define the potential for plasma treatment technology, developed by the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) to modify and enhance the wetting characteristics of water management surfaces. If successful, such enhancements will lead to more robust operation and reduced system complexity. Methods which promote both hydrophilic and hydrophobic character will be explored.

Benefits

Plasma treatments have the ability to enhance and modify the wetting characteristics of material surfaces. Fuel cells and electrolyzers rely on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces to efficiently conduct product water and reactant gases to the electrodes. Air plasma technologies can remove organic contaminants, introduce oxygen functionality to surfaces, and create texturing on some materials; all of which lead to improved wetting of water management membranes. Such structures serve as wicking surfaces designed to conduct product water from proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and also serve as a barrier to oxygen flow. Enhanced wetting of the porous metal structure improves the performance of the part during start up and in service.

Details

Technology area	Aerospace Power and Energy Storage > Energy Storage > Electrochemical Storage: Fuel Cells
Program	Center Innovation Fund: GRC CIF (GRC CIF)
Lead organization	Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Start date	2013-02-28
End date	2013-10-08

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Deborah L Waters — deborah.l.waters@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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