Kim So-hee, a Master's student in the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering at our university's Graduate School, received the Student Award for her oral presentation at the 2025 International Conference on Advanced Electromaterials (ICAE 2025).

Kim So Hee was selected as a Student Award Winner at ICAE 2025 (International Conference on Advanced Electromaterials) for her presentation titled “Investigation of Degradation Interaction Between Membrane and Bipolar Plate for Predictive Lifetime Assessment of Fuel Cells.” This research was conducted in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company and Incheon National University. Its goal was to understand the mutual degradation behavior occurring between the membrane and separator plate within fuel cells and to establish quantitative criteria that can be utilized for lifetime prediction and durability enhancement design.

The research team proposed the Mutual Influence Relation Factor (MIRF) by comprehensively analyzing the fluoride ion (F⁻) leakage, hydrofluoric acid (HF) generation, membrane thickness change, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) change occurring at the membrane-separator interface. This MIRF quantifies the direction and extent of the influence each component has on the degradation of the other. This enabled systematic comparison and analysis of how membrane and separator degradation progresses in tandem across different separator material combinations. It also presented a new evaluation framework viewing the membrane and separator not as separate elements but as a single interfacial system.

This research is expected to contribute broadly to the advancement of fuel cell life prediction models, the development of highly durable membrane and separator materials, and system design studies considering interfacial stability. This is achieved by establishing a foundation for quantitatively linking and interpreting complex degradation factors within fuel cell systems.