Rational design can improve hydrogen fuel cell efficiency
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - 12:02
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Hydrogen fuel cells, in which the chemical energy of hydrogen is converted into electricity, offer the potential for a wide variety of applications, especially in transportation and power generation. Although hydrogen fuel cells are currently used on a small scale, making them commercially available for large-scale use requires improvements in two key areas: efficiency and cost-effectiveness. In a new study, scientists have designed tri-metallic electrocatalysts for hydrogen fuel cells that theoretically improve in both areas, outperforming the best platinum-based catalysts to date.