Arizona State extending fuel cell-life with antifreeze
Researchers at Arizona State University, working on prolonging the life of hydrogen fuel-cells by increasing hydrogen storage density, have hit upon a new chemical combination to achieve their goal. By taking sodium borohydride which is used to store the hydrogen, and adding to it a chemical found in antifreeze, the researchers have found that the fuel-cell can generate more electricity without chemical by-products inhibiting the reaction. Fuel-cells are expected to be utilised in virtually every application in which conventional batteries are currently used once the technology and production capabilities have advanced to make them cost effective.
Analysis: Breakthroughs in the lab today are expected to take between three to five years to reach the market so we could be looking fuel-cells using this storage technique as early as 2010. However, even once the technology itself is ready, a hydrogen distribution infrastructure will still need to be established.
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[Source: ASU Foundation via FuelCellToday]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 10:43PM (3/24/2007)
"Fuel-cells are expected to be utilised in virtually every application in which conventional batteries are currently used..."
Nope. Only in applications geared towards people who have more money than sense, or who can freely spend other people's money. Those of us who have to spend our own money will choose something cheaper and safer.
"...once the technology and production capabilities have advanced to make them cost effective."
Won't happen. Besides, I prefer an energy source that is actually green, and not ozone-destroying.
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GreyFlcn 4:32PM (3/28/2007)
Like said, fat chance with the fuel cells.
With electric cars being 3-4x more energy efficient than fuel cells,
And the rapid advancement of batteries and ultracapacitors as early as THIS YEAR.
With the requirement of Platinum and Ultrapure water, Hydrogen hasn't got a prayer.
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vilago 10:38AM (9/13/2007)
you people don't know what your talking about! fuel cells aren't ozone depleting. I don't know where you heard that. Fuel cells are the most environmentally friendly form of alternative energy today. Their byproduct is 99% water vapor.
I don't know where you got "electric cars being 3-4x more energy efficient than fuel cells." The efficiency of electric motors/batteries are defined TOTALLY different than fuel cells. There are electric efficiencies, thermodynamic efficiencies, and let's not forget Gibbs free energy. So there's no way you can compare the 2. Need i mention the horrid efficiency of car engines? we still use those don't we?
And finally, if you wanna talk apples: "In the early days of PEMFC development, [platinum] was used at the rate of 28 mg cm^-2...this high rate of usage led to the myth, still widely held, that platinum is a major factor in the cost of a PEMFC...at such 'loadings' the basic raw material cost of the platinum metal in a 1 kW PEMFC would be about $10." (Quoted from "Fuel Cell Systems Explained, 2003). So as you can see, your claims are completely unfounded.
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