14 Feb 2008
New discovery could improve fuel cell efficiency
The efficiency of polymer electrolyte fuel cells could be increased with new technology, scientists have claimed.
Scientists from Berkeley claim that a polymer membrane that becomes wetter as the temperature in the surrounding air increases can improve the efficiency of polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
The fuel cells can be used to power cars and according to Nitash Balsara, a polymer physicist with Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division, the membrane is the first of its kind.
"This is a big barrier because fuel cells become more efficient at higher temperatures, so they require a polymer membrane that also operates at higher temperatures," Mr Balsara said.
The technology has been developed over several years after Mr Balsara believed simple technology could keep water in the polymer membranes.
"Our work demonstrates that the capacity of a membrane to hold water can be affected by organising them into extremely small channels," he said.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sabl/2007/Nov/polymer.html
© Adfero Ltd
Scientists from Berkeley claim that a polymer membrane that becomes wetter as the temperature in the surrounding air increases can improve the efficiency of polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
The fuel cells can be used to power cars and according to Nitash Balsara, a polymer physicist with Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division, the membrane is the first of its kind.
"This is a big barrier because fuel cells become more efficient at higher temperatures, so they require a polymer membrane that also operates at higher temperatures," Mr Balsara said.
The technology has been developed over several years after Mr Balsara believed simple technology could keep water in the polymer membranes.
"Our work demonstrates that the capacity of a membrane to hold water can be affected by organising them into extremely small channels," he said.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sabl/2007/Nov/polymer.html
© Adfero LtdSource: Adfero