Engineers, Chemist Develop Option for Cheaper, More Durable Fuel Cells

Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have identified a material that could be used to make cheaper, longer-lasting fuel cells without compromising their energy output.

Mechanical engineering Professor Arumugam “Ram” Manthiram and colleagues have synthesized an alloy containing a cheaper element, palladium, that matches platinum for its ability to promote (catalyze) one of the chemical reactions that occurs inside fuel cells to produce electricity.

Pictured at left are professor of chemistry and biochemistry Dr. Allen Bard, Dr. Manthiram, and postdoctoral fellow Raghuveer Vadari.

Photo by Jennie Trower
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Dr. Manthiram holds a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly that contains the new alloy catalyst.

Dr. Manthiram holds a single fuel cell with the membrane-electrode assembly inside.

The solution-based chemical synthesis of the carbon-supported alloy catalyst.