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ISU scientists have developed a new high performance, cost effective, alkaline-membrane fuel cell for portable/mobile power source applications.

Fuel cells are emerging as promising technologies for increasing the possibilities of mobility and stretching the limits of energy storage. These portable power stations are attractive alternatives to batteries in applications where electric recharging isn’t available and power is required for a long time, as long as several weeks. Current fuel cell technologies that are small enough to be portable (direct methanol fuel cells) require high amounts of noble metals and have short lifetimes with low power loading. Iowa State University researchers have designed a promising new fuel cell module that, in combination with low cost cathode materials and a simple anion exchange membrane, takes advantage of the non-toxic and energy dense fuel, carbohydrazide. A non-noble metal catalyst is used to achieve voltages and power density that can enable many applications. The invention is well positioned to take advantage of the rapid growth and demand in the fuel cell market for portable power.

• Co-N-C anode: high efficiency & cost-effective

• No metal catalysts: reduced cost & extended life time

• Carbohydrazide fuel: non-toxic & energy dense

This technology can be utilized for portable/mobile power source applications. Specifically, the commercialized products can be used by persons or companies where mobile power is necessary and electric recharging isn't available, like cars, planes, boats, or spaceship manufacturers, or military or aerospace industries.

Patent(s) applied for