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Compact direct (m)ethanol fuel cell for portable applications

MOREPOWER

Project timeline
Start:
February 2004
Duration:
39 months
End:
April 2007
General Information
The objective of this project is to develop a low cost, low temperature, portable direct methanol fuel cell device. It will also offer limited operation on ethanol fuel and will be of compact construction and modular design. The areas of development will include novel proton exchange membranes, anode and cathode electrocatalysts and fully optimized multilayer membrane electrode assemblies. New low-cost proton exchange membranes will be developed to reduce the fuel crossover rate through the electrolyte to levels significantly lower than that of currently available materials (e.g. Nafiona). New electrocatalyst materials will be developed to enhance the low temperature methanol (and ethanol) electro-oxidation activity of the anode. Catalyst development for the cathode will focus on enhancing the oxygen reduction activity of platinum electrocatalyst and increasing its selectivity to enhance methanol tolerance. The structure of the electrocatalyst and electrode layers will be optimized to promote efficient operation at low temperatures with practical flows and pressures.
EU-Programme Acronym and Subprogramme AreaFP6-2002-Energy-1, 6.1.3.2.1. Fuel cells including their applications
Project TypeSTREP
Contract NumberSES6-CT-2003-502652
Co-ordinatorHelmholtz Zentrum Hereon (DE)
Total Eligible Costs (€) Hereon Eligible Costs (€) EC Funding for Hereon (€)
3.925.231548.044309.994
Contact Person at Hereon Prof. Dr. Volker Abetz, Institute of Polymer Research, PM Phone: +49 4152 87 2461, (initial contact: Prof. Suzanna Pereira-Nunes, Institute of Polymer Research)
E-mail contact
Worldwide Europe

Participants
Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A. (IT), CNR-ITAE, Institute for Transformation and Storage of Energy, Messina (IT), Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (DE), Johnson Matthey (UK), NedStack fuel cell components BV (NL), NedStack fuel cell technology BV (NL), Solvay S.A. (BE)

(completed April 2007)

Last Update: 18. May 2021