19 May 2008
Fuel cell breakthrough announced by MIT
Scientific researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claim to have boosted the output of one type of fuel cell by around 50 per cent, through the use of a new membrane.
MIT professor of chemical engineering Paula Hammond said: "Our goal is to replace traditional fuel-cell membranes with these cost-effective, highly tenable and better-performing materials."
Working with direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) researchers claim that by using a layer-by-layer assembly technique they were able to eliminate the need for nafion, which has traditionally been used for the electrolyte between electrodes.
Ms Hammond suggested that the new technology could potentially be used in battery systems and photovoltaics.
MIT boasts its own dedicated fuel cell research laboratory - with research currently being carried out in a number of areas, including the "use of fuel cells for improving on-site emergency power availability and reliability at nuclear power plants".
© Adfero Ltd
MIT professor of chemical engineering Paula Hammond said: "Our goal is to replace traditional fuel-cell membranes with these cost-effective, highly tenable and better-performing materials."
Working with direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) researchers claim that by using a layer-by-layer assembly technique they were able to eliminate the need for nafion, which has traditionally been used for the electrolyte between electrodes.
Ms Hammond suggested that the new technology could potentially be used in battery systems and photovoltaics.
MIT boasts its own dedicated fuel cell research laboratory - with research currently being carried out in a number of areas, including the "use of fuel cells for improving on-site emergency power availability and reliability at nuclear power plants".
© Adfero LtdSource: Adfero