Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are becoming more popular as energy conversion devices because of their efficiency and simplicity in design and operation. The attractiveness of this fuel cell system has increased significantly within the past several years because of the following improvements. The catalyst loading has decreased significantly, and membranes with improved conductivity, water permeability and thermal stability have been developed. Electrode/membrane contact area has increased and materials processing and preparation cost has decreased. However, before this system can become economically competitive with existing technologies, its performance must be improved further.
Fuel cell research holds considerable promise as an efficient means for energy production for transportation and industrial and residential applications. The KU Energy Research Center supported initial development of this research via seed funding. Latest development includes a device that will more effectively distribute the reactant gases and remove the product gases and liquid water from the active sites in the electrodes of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Experimental studies to validate the effectiveness of this device in a single-cell and stack of cells are underway.
Funding continues to be actively sought to support this research including a proposal to NSF on "Spatial and Temporal Behavior in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," for $186,113 for three years. Another proposal has been submitted to Honda on "Development of High Performance and Long Life Membrane and Electrode Assemblies for PEM Fuel Cells," for $30,000 for one year.