Proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Progress in cost reduction of the key components, Platinum Metals Rev

Proton exchange membrane f u e l cells operating o n hydrogenlair are being considered as high efficiency, low pollution power generators for stationary and transportation applications. There have been many successful demonstrations of this technology in recent years. However, to penetrate these markets the cost of the fuel cell stack must be reduced. Th i s report details the progress made on reductions in the stack cost by lowered plat inum catalyst loadings in the latest stack designs, the development of lower cost membrane electrolytes, the design of alternative bipolarflow field plates, and the introduction of mass produc-tion technolou. Despite such advances, there i s still a need for further reduc-tions in the stack cost, through improvements in the performance of the mem-brane electrode assembly. However, improved stack performance must be demonstrated not only with pure hydrogen fuel but also, moreparticularly, with reformate fuel, where tolerance to poisoning by carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide needs to be improved. Advances that are required in the ancillary sub-systems are also briefly considered here