A Wireless Smart Dataport for Processing and Communication in Smart Spaces

Higher energy density and longer life fuel cells are desired for long life electric power production. It is desired to improve the operating lifetime of fuel cells to continuously power sub-watt sensors for a variety of applications including missilecontainer health monitors. Electrochemical Design Technologies proposes a Phase I program to demonstrate a novel fuel cell that has a long operating life and that is also regenerative. Our approach incorporates novel catalytic materials into the electrodewhile optimizing the electrode structure to impart higher kinetic activity, ionic conductivity, and electrical conductivity. During the Phase I program, Electrochemical Design Technologies will develop and demonstrate this process on PEM fuel cell stackson the order of 1.8 mW. A Phase II program will move this technology towards higher rate manufacturing capabilities for both military and commercial applications while focusing on optimizing the performance to environmental factors such as low temperaturesand humidity variations. Regenerative PEM fuel cells are required to lower the costs and improve performance to compete with today?s state of the art battery power sources. This proposed technology will lower the fuel cell costs for PEM fuel cell stacksallowing new commercial opportunities to be explored. Applications for this technology are centered about battery replacement for military and commercial sensors as well as to other electrical applications including portable electronics, power tools, andgenerators.