Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Tianjin University in China say they have developed a new approach that could make hydrogen fuel cells more affordable, durable and efficient while allowing them to operate with ambient air.
Their findings, published in Nature Energy, focus on anion-exchange membrane fuel cells, or AEMFCs, which generate electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike some conventional fuel cell technologies, AEMFCs can use cheaper and more abundant materials, potentially reducing system costs.
A new approach to hydrogen fuel cells operating in ambient air
(Illustration: Technion)
The technology is being studied for use in transportation, aviation, aerospace, drones, distributed energy systems, backup power and electricity generation in remote areas.
The study was led by Prof. Dario Dekel of the Technion’s Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering and the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program; Prof. Michael Guiver, a polymer membrane expert at Tianjin University; Dr. Karam Yassin, manager of the Technion’s Central Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory; and Dr. Sapir Willdorf-Cohen, a researcher in Dekel’s group.
The main challenges in developing AEMFCs have been improving power output, energy efficiency, performance and durability.
Until now, carbon dioxide in ambient air has largely been treated as a contaminant that harms performance and shortens fuel cell durability. The researchers propose what they call “CO2 management,” arguing that carbon dioxide should not be viewed only as an obstacle but as a factor that can be controlled and, under some conditions, used to improve fuel cell stability.
Prof. Dario R. Dekel Photo: Technion
Prof. Michael Guiver Photo: Technion
Dr. Karam Yassin Photo: Technion
Dr. Sapir Willdorf-Cohen Photo: Technion“For years, carbon dioxide has been considered one of the main challenges facing AEM fuel cells,” Dekel said. “Our work shows that the picture is more nuanced. Under certain conditions, carbon dioxide may contribute to the long-term stability of fuel cell materials. By learning how to manage CO2 rather than simply eliminate it, we can pave the way toward affordable, durable and high-performance fuel cells capable of operating directly with ambient air.”
The researchers said the findings could help speed the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in passenger vehicles, trains, drones, ships, distributed energy systems and autonomous power technologies.
The research was supported by the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, the Israel Science Foundation, the Israeli Council for Higher Education and other funding partners.