- Email: [email protected]
Ford, BP open Michigan hydrogen station
NEWS In research published recently in Nature [DOI: 10.1038/nature05118], Los Alamos scientists Rajesh Bashyam and Piotr Zelenay describe tests conducted on a cobalt-polypyrrole-carbon (CoPPY-XC72) composite. The composite – consisting of cobalt, polymer and carbon – was developed in research aimed at developing low-cost, non-Pt catalysts for the PEM fuel cell cathode. While the catalyst’s electrical energy producing activity is lower than that of Pt-based catalysts used in PEM fuel cells, the new material has already shown exceptional performance stability for more than 100 h of continuous testing, which the researchers claim has not been previously achieved with non-precious metal catalysts in PEMFCs. ‘Besides being made of inexpensive and environmentally benign materials,’ says Zelenay, ‘the chief advantage of these composite catalysts for oxygen reduction is that they can operate in the acidic environment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.’ Bashyam and Zelenay are investigating the nature of catalysts in a variety of composites. They are also part of a larger LANL effort aimed at developing new catalyst and electrode structures that could increase the current output from fuel cells. Contact: Dr Piotr Zelenay, Project Leader, Materials Science & Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. Tel: +1 505 667 0197, Email: [email protected], www.lanl.gov/orgs/mst
Ford, BP open Michigan hydrogen station
I
n the US, Ford Motor Company, BP and the city of Taylor in Michigan have marked an important milestone in their joint effort towards developing a hydrogen economy, by opening a hydrogen station that will fuel a fleet of four Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles in use as full-time city vehicles. ‘With this station, we will continue our work to gain real-world experience in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and help build public awareness of this developing technology,’ says Maria Curry-Nkansah, BP’s hydrogen business development manager. ‘This program is an example of how government, energy companies and the automotive industry are working collaboratively to develop alternative fuels.’ Ford currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogenpowered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real-world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 482 800 8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
km (300 000 miles) since its inception. Having the fleet outside the confines of the company has also produced valuable feedback on servicing vehicles in the field. As a hydrogen infrastructure is developed and implemented for the fleet at each of its locations, lessons learned are helping to ensure that the customer and hydrogen fueling interface is seamless and easy to use. Contact: Karl Fiegenschuh, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 313 337 3125, Email: [email protected], www.ford.com/en/innovation/ technology/hydrogenTransport
Micro-reactors produce hydrogen for portables
S
cientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US have designed and built ceramic micro-reactors for on-site reforming of hydrocarbon fuels, such as propane, into hydrogen for use in fuel cells and other portable power sources. In previous work, a team led by Paul Kenis, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois, developed an integrated catalyst structure and placed it inside a stainless steel housing, where it successfully stripped hydrogen from ammonia at temperatures up to 500°C. In their latest work, accepted for publication in the journal Lab on a Chip and posted on its website, the researchers incorporated the catalyst structure within a ceramic housing, which enabled the steam reforming of propane at operating temperatures up to 1000°C. Using this housing, the researchers also demonstrated the successful decomposition of ammonia at similar temperatures. According to Kenis, the high-temperature operation is essential for micro-reactors to operate at peak performance. When reforming hydrocarbons, such as propane, temperatures above 800°C prevent the formation of soot that can foul the catalyst surface and reduce performance. ‘The performance of our integrated, hightemperature micro-reactors surpasses that of other fuel reformer systems,’ says Kenis ‘Our micro-reactors are superior in both hydrogen production and in long-term stability.’ Kenis and his group are now attempting to reform other higher hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. Contact: Dr Paul J.A. Kenis, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA. Tel: +1 217 265 0523, Email: [email protected], www.scs.uiuc.edu/ chem_eng/Faculty/kenis.html
Plug Power links with Russian firms to work on fuel cell technology
U
S-based Plug Power has signed an agreement with the National Innovation Company New Energy Projects (NIC NEP) in Moscow to collaborate on technology and market development efforts in Russia. Norilsk Nickel MMC and the Russian Academy of Sciences launched NIC NEP in 2003 to advance hydrogen power and fuel cell research. As part of the agreement, Plug Power and NIC NEP will jointly develop commercial channels, supplier relationships, product manufacturing capabilities, training and support services and the requisite infrastructure – all of which are necessary for the successful market adoption of fuel cell products in Russia. Plug Power says that combining its proprietary research with that carried out by NIC NEP could lead to broader, more accelerated developments in fuel cell technology. Based on both technical and market considerations, the companies expect to set out a comprehensive, prioritized road map to drive product development and technology delivery activities in line with Russian market requirements. The partners will also pursue a number of technology development projects based on a comprehensive analysis of the market and business considerations. Targeted R&D areas include low-temperature membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and fuel cell stack technology, high-temperature MEA technology, solid oxide fuel cell development, desulfurization processes, fuel reforming, ultracapacitors, inverters and MEA production techniques.
Contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com Or contact: National Innovation Company New Energy Projects, Moscow, Russia. Tel: +7 495 787 2424, www.nic-nep.com
Funding supports HydroGen industrial fuel cell projects
I
n the US, HydroGen Corporation has signed an agreement with Ashta Chemicals to install and operate a fuel cell demonstration power plant at the latter’s chlor-alkali manufacturing plant in Ashtabula, Ohio. HydroGen,
December 2006
Ford, BP open Michigan hydrogen station
I
n the US, Ford Motor Company, BP and the city of Taylor in Michigan have marked an important milestone in their joint effort towards developing a hydrogen economy, by opening a hydrogen station that will fuel a fleet of four Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles in use as full-time city vehicles. ‘With this station, we will continue our work to gain real-world experience in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and help build public awareness of this developing technology,’ says Maria Curry-Nkansah, BP’s hydrogen business development manager. ‘This program is an example of how government, energy companies and the automotive industry are working collaboratively to develop alternative fuels.’ Ford currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogenpowered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real-world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 482 800 8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
km (300 000 miles) since its inception. Having the fleet outside the confines of the company has also produced valuable feedback on servicing vehicles in the field. As a hydrogen infrastructure is developed and implemented for the fleet at each of its locations, lessons learned are helping to ensure that the customer and hydrogen fueling interface is seamless and easy to use. Contact: Karl Fiegenschuh, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 313 337 3125, Email: [email protected], www.ford.com/en/innovation/ technology/hydrogenTransport
Micro-reactors produce hydrogen for portables
S
cientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US have designed and built ceramic micro-reactors for on-site reforming of hydrocarbon fuels, such as propane, into hydrogen for use in fuel cells and other portable power sources. In previous work, a team led by Paul Kenis, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois, developed an integrated catalyst structure and placed it inside a stainless steel housing, where it successfully stripped hydrogen from ammonia at temperatures up to 500°C. In their latest work, accepted for publication in the journal Lab on a Chip and posted on its website, the researchers incorporated the catalyst structure within a ceramic housing, which enabled the steam reforming of propane at operating temperatures up to 1000°C. Using this housing, the researchers also demonstrated the successful decomposition of ammonia at similar temperatures. According to Kenis, the high-temperature operation is essential for micro-reactors to operate at peak performance. When reforming hydrocarbons, such as propane, temperatures above 800°C prevent the formation of soot that can foul the catalyst surface and reduce performance. ‘The performance of our integrated, hightemperature micro-reactors surpasses that of other fuel reformer systems,’ says Kenis ‘Our micro-reactors are superior in both hydrogen production and in long-term stability.’ Kenis and his group are now attempting to reform other higher hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. Contact: Dr Paul J.A. Kenis, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA. Tel: +1 217 265 0523, Email: [email protected], www.scs.uiuc.edu/ chem_eng/Faculty/kenis.html
Plug Power links with Russian firms to work on fuel cell technology
U
S-based Plug Power has signed an agreement with the National Innovation Company New Energy Projects (NIC NEP) in Moscow to collaborate on technology and market development efforts in Russia. Norilsk Nickel MMC and the Russian Academy of Sciences launched NIC NEP in 2003 to advance hydrogen power and fuel cell research. As part of the agreement, Plug Power and NIC NEP will jointly develop commercial channels, supplier relationships, product manufacturing capabilities, training and support services and the requisite infrastructure – all of which are necessary for the successful market adoption of fuel cell products in Russia. Plug Power says that combining its proprietary research with that carried out by NIC NEP could lead to broader, more accelerated developments in fuel cell technology. Based on both technical and market considerations, the companies expect to set out a comprehensive, prioritized road map to drive product development and technology delivery activities in line with Russian market requirements. The partners will also pursue a number of technology development projects based on a comprehensive analysis of the market and business considerations. Targeted R&D areas include low-temperature membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and fuel cell stack technology, high-temperature MEA technology, solid oxide fuel cell development, desulfurization processes, fuel reforming, ultracapacitors, inverters and MEA production techniques.
Contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com Or contact: National Innovation Company New Energy Projects, Moscow, Russia. Tel: +7 495 787 2424, www.nic-nep.com
Funding supports HydroGen industrial fuel cell projects
I
n the US, HydroGen Corporation has signed an agreement with Ashta Chemicals to install and operate a fuel cell demonstration power plant at the latter’s chlor-alkali manufacturing plant in Ashtabula, Ohio. HydroGen,
December 2006