New Polymer Fuel Cells Can Operate at Higher Temperatures

Newswise — A new high-temperature polymer fuel cell that operates at 80-160 degrees Celsius, with a higher-rated power density than state-of-the-art fuel cells, solves the longstanding problem of overheating, one of the most significant technical barriers to using medium-and heavy-duty fuel cells in transportation vehicles such as trucks and buses.Because current fuel cells operate at 60-80 C, they require large radiators and air intakes in order to stay cool enough to operate. To resolve this issue, Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists developed a new polymer fuel cell that operates at higher temperatures. “Fuel cells are an energy conversion devices that produce electricity by electrochemically combining hydrogen and oxygen from the air. Like other electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission vehicles; they have no smog-related or greenhouse gas tailpipe…

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