Fuel-Cell Research Project

The long-term goal of this effort is to develop new (better) polymeric proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolytes for use in fuel cells.  If you understood that sentence, then by all means continue.  But, if you are thinking, "WHAT IS A FUEL CELL AND WHY DO I CARE", then follow the link.

So why am I doing research on proton-exchange membranes?  From a practical standpoint, PEMs are commercially important because PEM based fuel cells are likely to be the eventual replacement, or at least an alternative to, the internal combustion engine.  Most automobile makers are investing large sums of money in research and development of fuel cell powered vehicles - most of which are powered by PEM-based fuel cells.  In the next few years limited production of these vehicles will begin, and despite the fact that this technology has advanced to the point of commercialization , these is still a need for continued development of better performing and less expensive fuel cell components.

I started doing research on PEM's around 1994 working under a department of energy (DOE) funded program.  Although this was a very useful and productive experience for me, it was also frustrating because DOE was much more interested in building a better fuel cell than in understanding some of the basic science that would eventually lead to the development of better fuel cells.  In an effort to develop new PEMs with improved performance (conductivity and long-term stability), our research is trying to understand the relationship between these properties and the structure and morphology or sulfonic acid bearing polymers.  We are attempting to do this by systematically varying the structure of the polymers and observing the effect this has on polymer conductivity and polymer stability.