Low cost electrode development and performance in Ballard advanced stack hardware
- Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Reading (United Kingdom)
- Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC (Canada)
Cost reduction is a critical requirement for the widespread commercial application of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology. Significant stack cost savings are available through materials cost reductions and the development of low cost, high volume, manufacturing processes. This paper summarizes progress made by Ballard Power Systems and Johnson Matthey in the development of lower cost stack component technology. Single cell performance in Ballard Mark V hardware, of membrane electrode assemblies (NEAs) employing volume manufactured electrodes with catalyst loadings below 1.0 mgPtcm{sup -2}, are comparable to current stack MEAs comprising unsupported platinum based catalysts with loadings of 8.0 mgPtcm{sup -2}. In the advanced stack hardware, under development for motive and utility applications, the low cost MEAs exhibit high performance and minimal voltage decays after over 3,000 hours of stack operation. Cell to cell reproducibility is excellent, highlighting the high consistency of product available from the manufacturing processes. The MEAs represent a significant progress in the commercialization of PEMFC systems. Incorporation of the technology in commercial prototype stacks is underway.
- Research Organization:
- Fuel Cell Seminar Organizing Committee (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 460288
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961107-Absts.; ON: TI97001494; TRN: 97:001723-0141
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Fuel cell seminar, Kissimmee, FL (United States), 17-20 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]; Related Information: Is Part Of Fuel cells seminar; PB: 794 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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