Objectives • Elucidate rates and mechanisms of the degradation of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) platinum electrode performance – Effect of electrolyte, potential (holding and cycling), time, and temperature • Develop non-platinum cathode electrocatalysts for PEFCs – Transition metal carbides and nitrides – Bi-metallic systems – Metal centers attached to electron-conducting polymer backbones

Liquid water produced in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell experiences a freeze/thaw cycle when the cell is switched off and on while operating at ambient temperatures below freezing. This freeze/thaw cycle permanently deforms the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell capillary structures and reduces both the cell life and its ability to generate electric power. The X-ray tomography fac...

Objectives • Research, develop, assemble, and test a 50 kW net polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack system comprised of a PEM fuel cell stack and the supporting gas, thermal, and water management subsystems. The PEM fuel cell stack system will be capable of integration with at least one of the fuel processors currently under development by Hydrogen Burner Technology (HBT) and Arth...

The idea of a fuel cell was first discovered in 1839 by Christian Friedrich Schönbein [64] and William Grove [27]. Independently from each other they provided the foundation for the development of many different kinds of fuel cells. Today’s fuel cells are mostly classified by the type of electrolyte used in the cells. The most common types are polymer electrolyte fuel cells PEFC (developed by W...

Recently mesoporous materials have drawn great attention in fuel cell related applications, such as preparation of polymer electrolyte membranes and catalysts, hydrogen storage and purification. In this mini-review, we focus on recent developments in mesoporous electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, including metallic and metal-free catalysts for use as either anode or ca...