Hydrogen

Basic and applied research are critical to advancing Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In basic research we are exploring the fundamental electrochemical reactions within PEM fuel cells, identifying ways to improve and understand the behavior of materials under various operating conditions. This research can lead to breakthroughs in reducing the use of expensive platinum catalysts, enhancing membrane conductivity, and increasing durability, thus making PEM fuel cells more cost-effective and efficient.

On the level of applied research, we are focusing on translating these scientific insights into practical, scalable solutions. This involves optimizing fuel cell design, improving manufacturing processes, and altering operating conditions, while addressing challenges like integration into electric vehicles, portable power systems, and stationary applications.

• Use of in-house made test bench and commercial Greenlight test station
• Single cell testing on 25 cm2 and 50 cm2 active area
• Capability of testing LT and HT PEM fuel cells at various conditions (humidity, temperature, pressure, stoichiometry, anode/cathode gas compositions)
• Use of various evaluation methodologies (i.e., surface distribution of temperature and current density, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, etc.)

Equipment:

• In-house made test bench
• Greenlight Innovation G60 Test Station
• BalticFuelCells 25 cm2 and 50 cm2 fixture
• Gamry Reference 3000 potentiostat/galvanostat with Gamry 30A booster
• S++ segmented sensor plate

Selected references:

TODOROVSKI, Filip, SEKAVČNIK, Mihael, MORI, Mitja, LOTRIČ, Andrej. Evaluation of a start-stop protocol and its impact on the degradation of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. 9th International Youth Conference on Energy. (2024)

MLAKAR, Nejc, LOTRIČ, Andrej, SEKAVČNIK, Mihael, MORI, Mitja, ARAYA, Samuel Simon, ANDREASEN, Simon, VANG, Jakob Rabjerg. Evaluation of performance degradation of high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells using a simple start-stop testing protocol. 8th International Youth Conference on Energy. (2022)

ARAYA, Samuel Simon, THOMAS, Sobi, LOTRIČ, Andrej, SAHLIN, Simon Lennart, LISO, Vincenzo, ANDREASEN, Søren Juhl. Effects of impurities on pre-doped and post-doped membranes for high temperature PEM fuel cell stacks. Energies. (2021)

dr. Andrej Lotrič (andrej.lotric@fs.uni-lj.si, personal page)