[Triumf-seminars] TRIUMF Colloquium today at 14:00

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Date/Time: Thu 2006-09-14 at 14:00

Location:  Auditorium          

Speaker:   Zhong-Sheng (Simon) Liu & Rob Hui (NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation)

Title:     Technology of PEM Fuel Cells and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Status and Challenges

Abstract: In this presentation, the basic concepts of PEM fuel cells (PEMFCs) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and their current technology status are outlined. With respect to PEMFCs, this talk will focus on catalyst layers and gas diffusion layers, the most critical components of PEMFCs. It involves the mechanisms of proton transport and gas diffusion. It also involves the morphology of liquid water inside catalyst layers and how it affects effective electro-chemical-active surface areas. The water transport is then examined through the catalyst layers. Regarding the gas diffusion layers we address the effects of hydrophobic treatment on liquid water transport. The experimental issues of water droplet behaviours are also discussed. Two areas will be presented for SOFCs, including advantages and technique challenges in terms of electrochemistry, materials science, and fabrication.  The role of nanostructured materials for the performance of SOFCs is also discussed.

 

Zhong-Sheng (Simon) Liu, Ph. D.

Dr. Zhong-Sheng (Simon) Liu is a senior research officer and acting director of science and technology of NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. He obtained his PhD in 1992 from Jilin University majoring in computational mechanics. Then he spent six years conducting research in computational mechanics at Peking University, University of California at Berkeley, Technical University of Munich, University of Wales Swansea and University of Toronto. Since 1998 when he joined NRC, his research work dealt primarily with industrial problems involving computational modeling of stress, vibration, acoustics, fluid flow, heat/mass transfer, interactions between combustion flames and acoustic waves, and electrochemical reactions in a wide range of products. His current research interest at NRC-IFCI is mainly in fuel cell modeling, essentially interdisciplinary, covering the fields of computational solid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, computational electrochemical engineering, and computational materials. As an adjunct professor, He collaborates with Canadian universities on joint research projects and co-supervision of PhD students. 

Shiqiang (Rob) Hui, Ph.D.

Dr. Shiqiang (Rob) Hui is an Associate Research Officer at NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.  He received his Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering at McMaster University in 2000.  He has conducted research and development for materials, processing, and characterization for more than 20 years.  Dr. Hui has worked on various projects including chemical sensors, solid oxide fuel cells, magnetic materials, gas separation membranes, nanostructured materials, and thin film fabrication.  He has lead or involved in over


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