Polymer Electrolyte Research
 One of the main barriers to the commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel
cell systems, especially for automotive use, is the high cost of the platinum
electrocatalysts. Aside from the cost of the precious metal, concern has also
been raised over the adequacy of the world supply of platinum, if fuel cell
vehicles were to make a significant penetration into the global automotive
fleet. At Argonne, chemists are working toward the development of low-cost
nonplatinum electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction--durable
materials that would be stable in the fuel cell's operating environment and
retain high electrochemical activity over the design lifetime of the fuel cell.
Although platinum is used in both the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell,
developing alternative oxygen reduction catalysts for the cathode is the more
challenging of the two. Argonne's approach involves using bimetallic base
metal/noble metal systems.
International Energy Agency (IEA) and University Activities
Argonne serves as the Operating Agent for Annex XVI (polymer electrolyte fuel
cells) of the International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement on Advanced
Fuel Cells. Argonne provides a significant portion of the U.S. contribution to
that Annex, as well as to Annex XX, which covers fuel cell applications to
transportation. Argonne is working with several universities to investigate such
topics as surface characterization of electrocatalysts and modeling of polymer
electrolyte membranes. Argonne will coordinate two workshops of Annex XVI in
2008.
Projects
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