A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Günther Scherer
February 26, 2009

Abstract

Transportation systems rely heavily on oil products and significant reduction of primary energy demand and the associated CO2-emissions are estimated to be quite cost-intensive related to other energy sectors. In any case, demand for transportation services is expected to increase drastically within the next decades, typically up to 3-5 times higher than today's levels around 2050 worldwide. One of the most promising options in the mid- to long-term is the (at least partial) electrification of vehicle powertrains. Electrochemical energy converters, e.g. fuel cells, and storage systems, like batteries and supercapacitors, show intrinsically higher conversion efficiencies than the related thermochemical systems. The presentation focuses on our work on the development of hybrid power trains for automotive use, based on polymer electrolyte fuel cells in combination with supercapacitors as storage unit. Implications of these developments will be discussed, in particular some of the related material issues.

Biography

Günther G. Scherer directs the Electrochemistry Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. He received his Ph.D. from the Technical University of Berlin and the Fritz Haber Institute on the study of electro- and photoelectro-chemistry under the direction of Prof. Heinz Gerischer. After graduation, he held several distinguished research positions at IBM (in San Jose), at Battelle (in Frankfurt), and then Brown Bovieri and Ingold Messtechnik (in Switzerland). In 1989, he joined the Paul Scherrer Institute as head of the fuel cell group where he developed an international reputation as a leader in PEM fuel cell materials and design. In 2002, he was promoted to the head of the electrochemical laboratory, which conducts multi-disciplinary research in fuel cells, batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and related materials and systems development. He serves on numerous international advisory and review boards for both industry and government R&D efforts throughout Europe.