IP-URFC - ISRU proof unitized regenerative fuel cells

This work aims to use novel electrocatalysts to fabricate robust and ISRU (in-situ resource utilization) optimized polymer electrolyte fuel cells (FCs) for applications in space. Electrolysis cells are likely to also benefit from improvements made to platinum based catalysts. Several different FCs will be constructed using a model based iterative optimization approach. The degradation of the platinum-based catalyst and the FC as a whole will be studied by exposing the system to ISRU derived contaminants. The main goals of this work include: - Increase the FC tolerance towards lunar ISRU derived contaminants - Define contamination limits - In-situ health monitoring of FCs - Study the effect of multiple contaminants