FUEL CELL MATERIALS
TFP Hydrogen offer a range of solutions for fuel cell technologies, ranging from the GDL to the catalyst powder and even enabling the generation of green hydrogen fuel from water electrolysis.
Our high-performing range of catalyst powders is used by PEM fuel cell manufacturers, among others, in the production of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), they have been specially developed for fuel cell applications, meeting market requirements and demand. These materials include Pt/C catalysts and a new transient-tolerant anode catalyst.
WORKING WITH PEM FUEL CELL MANUFACTURERS SINCE 1988
Our parent company TFP also has an established track record in fuel cell technology, developing and optimising material for fuel cell GDLs since 1988 and working alongside some of the leading companies in the industry. This long-term commitment to fuel cell development and growth has facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the necessary material characteristics to achieve a high-performance GDL substrate. The result is a range of carbon veils and mats which can be tailored to suit the requirements of both stationary and portable fuel cell systems. To date, our nonwovens have been used successfully as GDLs in proton electrolyte membrane (PEMFC), phosphoric acid (PAFC) & direct methanol (DMFC) fuel cells.
WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen (or hydrogen-rich) fuel and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water. It is much cleaner and more efficient than an internal combustion engine (ICE) as it does so without burning the fuel. Essentially more of the fuel is converted into electricity and less into heat.
The active components of a fuel cell are combined in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which is composed of an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen fuel is supplied to the anode, and oxygen to the cathode, via the bipolar plates. The anode is coated with a catalyst which accelerates the conversion of hydrogen to protons and electrons. The electrolyte membrane is selective to protons only, allowing them to pass through to the cathode. The electrons must move via an external circuit generating an electrical current and excess heat. At the cathode the protons, electrons and oxygen combine to generate a water molecule, the only by-product of the process.
Individual fuel cells can be compiled to form stacks, which in turn can be combined into larger systems. This means that fuel cell systems vary significantly in both size and power, ranging from portable systems for transportation to large-scale installations that provide electricity for high-energy demand applications such as schools and hospitals.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE CATALYSTS
TFP Hydrogen has developed and manufactured a high-performing range of catalyst powders which are specially designed for fuel cells. These powders are used in the production of membrane MEAs, gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs).
Our materials include Pt/C catalysts and a new transient-tolerant anode catalyst, both of which are formulated to deliver benefits such as:
- High performance and efficiency over 10,000s of hours
- Long-term durability - improving the lifetime of the system
- Ease of application - the catalysts are highly dispersible into inks.
TFP Hydrogen also offers the capability to design and specify the optimum catalyst formulation for your system. We have a highly experienced team of specialists in chemistry, electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering and materials science and welcome the opportunity of customer collaboration to design a system-specific composition which achieves the best possible long-term performance and efficiency.
Our specialist catalyst manufacturing method is also rapidly scalable, enabling the capacity for larger-scale production when necessary.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CATALYSTS - CLICK HERE
MARKET-LEADING GDL SUBSTRATE
TFP has been developing and optimising material for fuel cell GDLs for over 30 years, working alongside some of the leading companies in the industry.
This long-term commitment to hydrogen fuel cell development and growth has facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the necessary material characteristics to achieve a high-performance GDL substrate, as well as enabled the company to build the capability, expertise and capacity to meet the forecast growth in fuel cell production.
The result of this long-term development is a range of carbon papers which can be tailored to suit the requirements of both stationary and portable fuel cell systems. To date, our nonwovens have been used extensively within the industry as GDL substrates for proton electrolyte membrane (PEMFC), phosphoric acid (PAFC) and direct methanol (DMFC) fuel cells.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GDL SUBSTRATE - CLICK HERE
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