The prime focus of IMMEDIATE is to develop high performing MEAs aimed for automotive applications through material R&D & process optimisation. The technical targets aimed in IMMEDIATE are addressing the JTI targets for automotive MEAs with respect to performance & cost. The proposed project is a continuation of the recently terminated and very successful FP6 R&D-project: IPHE-GENIE.

The IMMEDIATE project approach is based on utilisation and further improvement of the materials and processes. Thus, the approach and the technical IMMEDIATE targets are as follows:

• Development of a membrane with
• A proton conductivity of at least 0.1 S/cm at 120ºC & 25% RH
• Thermal stability up to 160ºC
• Low dimensional changes (<10%, wet/dry)
• Development of MEAs that show high performance [1 W/cm2 @ UCell=0.68V (hEl=55%)] at low Platinum loadings [ 0.15g Pt/kW] through:
• Catalyst development and design
• Ionomer and membrane optimisation
• Electrode design
• GDL optimisation
• Process optimisation
• Testing of the developed MEAs on single cell and on small stacks level at realistic automotive operating conditions i.e. T=120ºC, RH 25%, P=1.5bar, yet being able to start from -20°C
• Application of automotive AST protocols to make a 5,000 h’s lifetime probable

It is considered that especially the combination of these targets is both challenging and a significant step forward.

The project is scheduled for 3 years. The Consortium is well balanced, with the following 9 partners complementing one another to achieve the project target goals:

• A PEM MEA manufacturing company (IRD [SME]) - coordinator
• A leading manufacturer of ion exchange polymers and membranes (FuMa)
• A huge producer of specialised carbon and graphite (TC)
• A huge GDL manufacturing company (SGL)
• A leading supplier (OEM) of commercial transport solutions (Volvo)
• 4 R&D centres/universities, with more than 15 years’ experience working within PEM catalyst, ionomer, membrane & MEA development (ICPF, CNRS, SJTU & JRC)