Electronic and Electrochemical Materials and Devices Group, MST-11, MS D429, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, U.S.A.
Abstract:
We describe recent activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory devoted to polymer electrolyte fuel cells in the contexts of stationary power generation and transportation applications. A low cost/high performance hydrogen or reformate/air stack technology is being developed based on ultra-low platinum loadings and non-machined, inexpensive elements for flow-fields and bipolar plates. On-board methanol reforming is compared to the option of direct methanol fuel cells in light of recent significant power density increases demonstrated in the latter.