Fuel Cells to Market: Technological and Other Challenges

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Fuel Cells to MarketTechnological and Other
Challenges

• Ravi Datta
• Fuel Cell Center
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Worcester, MA 01609

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Outline
Promise of Fuel Cell Technology
Technological and Other Barriers
University-Industry Partnerships
Research at WPI Fuel Cell Center
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Promise of Hydrogen Economy
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Potential Fuel Cell Applications
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Technological Barriers

• Cost
• Cathode and Anode Performance
• Ambient and Transient Conditions
• Hydrogen Source/Infrastructure
• Durability, Reliability
• Catalysts
• Fuel Cells
• Reformers
• Membranes

Common Elements
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Other Barriers

• Lack of Public Awareness
• Questions On Hype Vs. Reality
• Lack of Performance and Reliability Data
• Questions Regarding Safety
• Lack of Support Infrastructure
• Lack of Educated Workforce

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University-Industry Partnerships for

• Demonstration of Innovative Technologies
• To Enhance Public Awareness
• To Investigate Technology Limitations
• To Separate Hype from Reality
• Incubating New Startups
• Technology Development
• Fundamental Research
• Educating the Future Workforce
• University-Industry Clusters
• Companies During Early Commercialization

Federal State Support Needed for
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Examples of Research at WPI Fuel Cell Center
1. Nafion Sorption
Choi, P., and Datta, R., J. Electrochem. Soc.,
150, E601-E607 (2003) Choi, P., Jalani, N. H.,
and Datta, R., J. Electrochem. Soc., 152, E84-E89
(2005).
Schroeders Paradox
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Grotthuss Diffusion
2. Proton Conduction in Nafion
Choi, P., Jalani, N. H., and Datta, R., J.
Electrochem. Soc., 152, E123-E130 (2005).
C. J. D. von Grotthuss, Ann. Chim., LVIII, 54
(1806)
d
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3. Nanocomposite Higher Temp PEMs
Malhotra, S., and Datta, R., J. Electrochem. Soc.
144, L23-L26 (1997).
Conductivity, S/cm
Activity of water vapor, ai
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4. Electrochemical PrOx
Datta, R., and Zhang, J. X., U. S. Patent
Application No. PCT/US2004/023889, filed on July
23, 2004 Zhang, J. X., and Datta, R., J.
Electrochem. Soc., 152, A1180-A1187 (2005).

• Simpler than PrOx
• Self-regulating
• No wasted H2

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5. Fuel Cell Performance Modeling
Thampan, T., Malhotra, S., Zhang, J. X., and
Datta, R.,Catal. Today., 67, 15-32 (2001).
Cathode Losses
i
PEM
Anode
GDL
Ralph, T. R., and Hogarth, M. P., Platinum Metals
Rev., 46, 3-14 (2002)
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6. Atomistic Catalyst Modeling and Design
Fishtik, I., Callaghan, C. A., and Datta, R., J.
Phys Chem. B, 108, 5683-5697 (2004)
Fishtik, I., Callaghan, C. A., and Datta, R.,
Patent Application Filed , 3. 19. 2004.
Electric circuit analog of WGSR Pathways