[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Petric.Tony.final.jpg” caption=”Tony Petric”]Tony Petric, an associate professor of materials science & engineering, has been appointed the NSERC Fuel Cell Technologies Chair.

Petric leads an active research group involved in fuel cells, ionic electronic and mixed conducting oxides and thermodynamic properties of reactive alloys.

“Tony Petric is eager to expand on his research work in fuel cells,” said Mo Elbestawi, dean of the Faculty of Engineering. “The Faculty is fortunate to have such an enthusiastic researcher of his ability. We are excited about awarding this chair to Dr. Petric.”

Petric obtained a PhD in metallurgical engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal and his BASc. from the University of Toronto. He joined McMaster University in 1989 as an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) is funding the new Faculty of Engineering research chair, in collaboration with industrial sponsor Fuel Cell Technologies Corp. and the Faculty.

Fuel Cell Technologies Corp. is a Canadian engineering company that designs and supplies ambient temperature battery/fuel cell propulsion systems, in particular, for submersible vessels.

Additional funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) of $71,273 for a fuel cell test centre will help the Faculty of Engineering to build on its current expertise in small (1-5 kW) ceramic fuel cells known as SOFCs.

The chair will work with Fuel Cell Technologies Corp. to develop a commercial product. The research at McMaster will range from developing ceramic powders for the cell membrane to designing the fuel cell stack. The work includes identifying new ceramic compounds and metallic alloys, developing high temperature seals within each cell compartment, finding novel ways of integrating the cell components and ultimately improving the efficiency of the fuel cell system.

The goal of the program is to produce a ceramic fuel cell that is capable of efficient, long term operation using natural gas fuel with minimal maintenance or intervention.