Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Development with Lightweight Component Materials

This proposal is submitted in response to the Defense Technology Conversion Committee (DTCC's) solicitation entitled "Defense Technology Conversion, Reinvestment, and Transition Assistance". ERC, with the Center for Electro-chemical Systems and Hydrogen Research at Texas A&M University, proposes to develop PEM fuel cells with lightweight component materials. Although the PEM fuel cell is the leading candidate for an automobile power source meeting the future zero emission requirement, its power density is currently an order of magnitude below the 400 W/kg criteria proposed by DOE. The major contributor (75-90%) to the stack weight is the graphite bipolar plates. The Phase I effort will focus on further improvement of the electronic conductivity of the lightweight alternative bipolar plate material which has already shown promising results in single cell testing. The new bipolar plate will be approximately half of the weight of the present graphite plate. Phase I work will also include otpimization of electrode structure and membrane and electrode assembly with the lighweight conductive bipolar plate. Scale-up cell testing and multicell stack design will also be performed. Phase II will provide demonstration of the lightweight and compact PEM fuel cell stack with thermal and water management. Anticipated Benefits: The anticipated benfits will range from a lighweight protable power source for defense and military applications to a compact, environmentally benign, high power density vehicular power source.