Objective The objective is to develop a low-cost, low temperature, portable direct methanol fuel cell device. It will also offer limited operation on ethanol fuel and will be of compact construction and modular design. The development will include novel proton exchange membranes, anode and cathode electro catalysts and fully optimised multilayer membrane electrode assemblies. New low-cost proton exchange membranes will be developed to reduce the methanol crossover rate through the electrolyte to levels significantly lower than that of currently available materials (e.g. Nafion). New electro catalyst materials will be developed to enhance the low temperature methanol (and ethanol) electro-oxidation activity of the anode. Catalyst development for the cathode will focus on enhancing the oxygen reduction activity of platinum electro catalyst and increasing its selectivity to enhance methanol tolerance.The structure of the electro catalyst and electrode layers will be optimised to promote efficient operation at low temperatures with practical flows and pressures. System optimisation, simplification and miniaturization will be carried out. The final performance objectives will be: single cells operating at 0.5V / cell at 0.2 Acm-2 at 30-60 C (in atmospheric pressure air).Prototypes of 100 and later 500 W stacks, operating at low temperatures with aimed electrical characteristics of 40 A/12.5 V, will be the targets of the project. The effective operation at this low temperature is particularly challenging. Additionally a conceptual study for up-scale will be supplied. A narrow collaboration between research centres and industry will make possible a rapid exploitation of the new components and system developments.A SME will be responsible for the integration and will deliver the prototypes. The potential market for portable fuel cells includes weather stations, medical devices, signal units, auxiliary power units, gas sensors and security cameras. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells Keywords Compact power generation DMFC Nanotechnology catalysts membranes microsystems portable application Programme(s) FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SUSTDEV-1.2.1 - Fuel cells and their applications Call for proposal FP6-2002-ENERGY-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator GKSS - FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GEESTHACHT GMBH Address Max-planck-strasse 1 Geesthacht Germany See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT - SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Strada torino, 50 Orbassano (to) See on map SOLVAY S.A. Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue du prince albert 33 Bruxelles See on map JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LTD GB EU contribution € 0,00 Address Cockspur street 2-4, trafalgar square London See on map CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Piazzale aldo moro 7 Roma See on map POLITECNICO DI TORINO Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Corso duca degli abruzzi 24 Torino (turin) See on map NEDSTACK FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY BV Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address Westervoortsedijk 73 Arnhem See on map NEDSTACK FUEL CELL COMPONENTS BV Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address Westervoortsedijk 73 Arnhem See on map INSTITUT FÜR MIKROTECHNIK MAINZ GMBH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Carl-zeiss-strasse 18-20 Mainz See on map Links Website Opens in new window
