Achievement

A mechanical engineering student, Todd Snelson, has been investigating fuel cell materials using inputs from mechanical, materials, and chemical engineering faculty. In depth testing has been conducted on fuel cell materials in the Biotech and Materials Research Center to provide data for the further development of his research in the ultrasonic sealing of the fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Specifically, working side by side with materials scientists allowed for materials data collection and discussions that led to a more in- depth understanding of the materials that are being bonded together; in particular, since the process used ultrasonic sealing with vertical vibrations, understanding the response of the materials on the molecular level was important. This collaboration has proved helpful in the development of the models simulating the phenomenon taking place during the ultrasonic bonding of the different fuel cell MEA components.