Pietro Asinari
Pietro Asinari
Multi-scale modeling to boost fuel cell performance: From pore-scale simulations to better efficiency and durability
According to the European Commission, Europe has set itself a goal to reduce CO2 emission levels by 2050 to 80% of what they were in 1990. Fuel cells and hydrogen have potential to contribute to overcoming the energy challenges that accompany this change. In particular, fuel cells based on proton-exchange membranes (PEM) and fuelled by hydrogen and air have many attractive features, including high power density, rapid start-up and high efficiency. However, among the major technology issues that must be addressed for their commercialization and widespread use, the degradation phenomena of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) plays a key role. In this talk, we present multi-scale morphological models and simulation tools for detailed understanding of degradation phenomena. This kind of modeling techniques can take strong advantage by recent progresses in dual-beam focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). As an example, we investigate the effects of the catalyst distribution in the electrodes on the local fluid flow and on the loss of phosphoric acid from the membrane.

Welcome
to the European Conference on Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Growth website.
ECo MaTech will be held in Bled (Slovenia) from 19th to 21st of September 2013.
Eco MaTech is the third edition of a conference that started in 2009. The aim of ECo MaTech is to gather representatives of academic and R&D institutions, industry, governmental agencies and civil society to:
- present their work, ideas and products,
- increase fruitful exhanges between all the actors involved in sustainable growth technologies,
- increase the networking with sustainable growth professionals,
- establish a general discussion platform on sustainable growth.
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Conference rooms at Kompas hotel
The conference will be held in Bled at Kompas Hotel. The hotel boasts a long experience in hosting international conferences.

Visit Bled
With immense natural beauty, Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. For more information, please visit bled.si.