Accelerating Fuel Cell Development through
Research and Education
This is an integrated research and education plan
focused on helping Colorado mobilize to embrace the development of fuel cell
technology. Fuel cells were initially developed using hydrogen as a fuel.
However, methanol offers several advantages over H2 in terms of
safety, storage, and transportation, particularly for portable power
applications. Unfortunately the efficiency of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs)
is inferior to hydrogen due to its relatively inefficient decomposition and
unwanted trans-membrane diffusion. The research aspect of this proposal will be
to develop novel oxide thin film structures to overcome these efficiency
limitations. The PI
and his students have recently developed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor
deposition (PECVD) techniques to make WO3 films that conduct protons
an order of magnitude faster than traditional vapor-deposited material. This
expertise, in conjunction with electrochemical deposition, will be leveraged to
develop novel fuel cell anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes to enable next
generation fuel cell technology. Tungsten oxide thin films, coated with
electrodeposited platinum-based nanoparticles, will be examined as electrodes
for DMFCs. Advanced PECVD techniques will be used to investigate alternative
metal oxide electrolytes to facilitate the completion of a solid-state thin film
fuel cell. PhD candidate Mike Seman is leading
this effort.
Support for this project is being provided by the Colorado
Institute of Technology under a research and education award.