Application of Microsystem Technologies in Advanced Aerospace Vehicle Power Systems

Air Force has identified fuel cells as ¿¿emerging technology of choice for power generation¿¿ because of ¿¿their superior fuel efficiency¿¿ and reduced environmental impact. Electrolyte is a critical core component of a fuel cell. No solid electrolytehas been identified that permits fuel cell operation in the intermediate temperature range 200-400¿¿C, although this range is of outstanding technological interest. We propose a novel approach to develop a viable solid electrolyte with the associatedmembrane electrode assembly for this unexploited intermediate temperature range. The Phase I effort will determine feasibility of the proposed approach. The feasibility will be determined by preparing components of the proposed membrane electrodeassembly and evaluating their material compatibility. A viable intermediate temperature fuel cell would ameliorate many outstanding problems of the polymer electrolyte fuel cells, while avoiding problems of the high temperature ones. The developed fuelcell could effectively compete with the existing polymer electrolyte cells across their entire broad market and provide major economic benefits. This approach to fuel cell design/construction will eliminate many of the problems currently associated withtraditional fuel cell designs and allow for reliable operation in the intermediate temperature range.