CFCI Research: New materials for PEMFCs

The Cornell Fuel Cell Institute  was founded in order to address the shortcomings of present fuel cell materials. CFCI research is focused on discovering and understanding more efficient, poison tolerant catalysts; superior catalyst supports; rationally designed electrodes; and better membranes. Specifically, CFCI is actively involved in:

• The combinatorial discovery of new, impurity tolerant and less expensive fuel cell electrocatalysts.
• Developing synthetic methods to produce nanoparticles of new, complex electrocatalysts.
• Exploring the bulk and surface reactivity of MEA Components, especially the catalysts.
• Theoretical approaches to understanding new catalysts.
• Invention of more durable catalyst supports.
• Development of directed self-assembly methods to prepare electrodes (one-pot synthesis).
• Development of conducting membranes with higher mechanical strength, and enhanced durability.

Collaboration with external partners involved in fuel cell R&D is essential for this endeavor to succeed. First, those involved in designing and testing real fuel cells have the intimate knowledge of the real long term problems. This helps us guide our research objectives and approaches. Second, such collaborators are essential if any new materials are to be validated as useful in real systems where synergistic interactions between different materials may be important. CFCI develops and manages such interactions.

 For more information, please visit the Cornell Fuel Cell Institute (CFCI) website

         
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Last updated July 2007