A unique class of alternative catalysts for fuel cell applications that replace the need for precious metals
- Inst. for New Energy, Los Altos, CA (United States)
A method has been found that allows the replacement of precious metals with nonmetallic alternative materials for use as the required catalysts in various fuel cell applications. The amount of the precious metal currently used for the catalyst per fuel cell is substantial, and is a significant fraction of the non-variable cost of the entire fuel cell unit. Through the use of a recently developed trade-secret process, a class of nonmetal materials can be manufactured into a metal-like polymer that behaves electrically in an similar manner as do the precious metals during normal fuel cell operation. Samples of these alternative catalysts have been manufactured using an inexpensive process developed and protected under trade secret agreements. Actual small-scale fuel cell demonstration tests have been successfully conducted that verify the operational capabilities of these low-cost alternative catalysts in place of platinum and rhodium. The cost savings of using these alternative catalysts within large scale fuel cell power units may be large.
- OSTI ID:
- 170408
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950729-; TRN: IM9605%%427
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL (United States), 30 Jul - 5 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 3; Goswami, D.Y. [ed.] [Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)]; Kannberg, L.D.; Somasundaram, S. [eds.] [Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)]; Mancini, T.R. [ed.] [Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)]; PB: 493 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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