On the morning of September 14, 2020, Dr. Siyu Ye, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), also an outstanding alumnus of the Department of Chemistry graduated in 1988, was invited to present a "Lu Jiaxi Lecture” in the Chemistry Lecture Hall. The lecture title was Research，Development and Industrialization of Key Materials for Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Current Status and Challenges. Prof. Zhongqun Tian, and Dean Prof. Zhaoxiong Xie presented a lecture commemorative certificate to Dr. Siyu Ye.

Dr. Ye first introduced the development status of hydrogen fuel cells. Among all the alternative energies, hydrogen is a clean carrier and can be manufactured from a wide range of resources. It plays an important role not only in the field of fuel cells but also in many chemical processes. Hydrogen fuel cells use hydrogen as fuel and produce energy through an electrochemical process without combustion, thus significantly increase energy conversion efficiency. Dr. Ye pointed out that there are still many technical challenges in the development of hydrogen energy, such as insufficient hydrogen refueling facilities and urgent technological innovations to improve the economy and stability of batteries. Dr. Ye then analyzed the challenges of fuel cell development in details. The first is the selection of key materials for fuel cell membrane electrode, such as catalyst, proton exchange membrane, and gas diffusion layer. The large-scale production of new catalytic materials should depend on the deep cooperation between enterprises and scientific research institutions in universities, rather than the traditional route of research and development. The second is the continuity of the manufacturing process. The development of the fuel cell industry is an integral whole. Only by fully understanding the upgrade brought by each block to the overall process can the technology be better updated. The third is the verification of engineering. Laboratory materials must undergo rigorous industrialization verification. Looking to the future development of hydrogen fuel cells, Dr. Ye said the fuel cell research and development and industrialization is a systematic project. With the increasing importance for clean energy at the national level, the engineering validation process will be promoted by the combination of policies, production, study, and research. The problems of membrane electrode R&D and industrialization will be eventually solved.

(Text / Qinfang Chen, Zhe Li  Photo /Jingzhu Cao)