Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research & Development

Fuel cell vehicles have been identified as the personal transportation technology of the future by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program because of their high efficiency and very low emissions. To achieve the goal of road-ready fuel cell vehicles, great strides must be made in the development of fuel cells, hydrogen production, and hydrogen storage technologies.

The year 2015 is the target date set by DOE to develop fuel cell technologies to the stage where vehicle manufacturers can evaluate the commercial viability of fuel cell vehicles.

Argonne National Laboratory is an active participant in DOE’s hydrogen and fuel cell research program. The Laboratory is conducting research on how best to make fuel cell vehicles a reality. Key areas of this research include hydrogen production and storage, and fuel cell research, development, and testing.

Hydrogen Production and Storage

Hydrogen fuel cells will need a reliable, inexpensive source of hydrogen. Hydrogen storage solutions will need to provide enough capability and capacity to enable the same driving range as a conventional gasoline vehicle. Argonne’s research efforts focus on:

Hydrogen production
Hydrogen quality
Materials for hydrogen storage
Hydrogen storage systems design, configuration, and analysis

Fuel Cell Research, Development and Testing

Research in fuel cells is needed to reduce their cost and to increase their durability. Argonne’s research efforts focus on:

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Electrocatalysts
Membrane-electrode assemblies

Solid oxide fuel cells
Fuel cell systems modeling and analysis

As fuel cell technologies evolve, there is a great need for independent, standardized testing and evaluation capabilities. Argonne’s Fuel Cell Test Facility offers the equipment and expertise to conduct unbiased analyses of fuel cells for transportation applications. With the capability to test specific component technologies on up through fully integrated fuel cell systems that incorporate their own fuel processing and air supply subsystems, the Fuel Cell Test Facility is a tremendous resource for fuel cell developers, fuel cell users, vehicle manufacturers, and government and private agencies.

Collaborative Work and Student Opportunities

Argonne regularly applies its expertise to projects sponsored by non-DOE organizations. These include materials, processes, and systems development for, or in collaboration with, public and private organizations. In addition, Argonne works collaboratively with universities on technical research, and with leading manufacturers to develop new technologies and bring viable technologies to market. For more information on technical research opportunities, contact Romesh Kumar. For more information on technology transfer, contact Jeff Chamberlain.

Many opportunities exist for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to contribute to hydrogen and fuel cell research efforts. University faculty and faculty/student teams can also participate in ongoing projects. For more information on student and faculty internships, visit the Division of Educational Programs (DEP) at www.dep.anl.gov.