A large portion of DOE fuel cell research is about improving the fuel. Many fuels contain contaminants that can damage the cell and impede the processes involved. Developing methods for removing impurities from fuels may help improve their efficiency and environmental impact, thereby increasing their marketability.
In Fuel Quality Issues in Stationary Fuel Cell Systems [3], from the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory, researchers point out contaminants of particular concern because of their effects on the functionality and resilience of fuel cell systems, and suggest strategies for clean-up.
DOE fuel cell research is not limited to the exploration of fuel enhancement. You can find reports, patents, presentations, and other research documents related to multiple aspects of fuel cell research, including fuel cell refinement, environmental effects of fuel cells, and fuel-cell market needs, in OSTI collections: fuel cells [4].