SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Material Sciences

Fuel Processor Testing & Development

Modeling & Optimization

Systems Development & Integration

Evaluation, Measurement, & Characterization

Manufacturing Systems Technology

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	SwRI engineers have fabricated 800-square-centimeter active area membrane electrode assemblies, incorporating ultralow catalyst load electrode technology.

For fuel cell technologies to become commercially accepted, new high-performance, and low-cost materials must be developed. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is playing a major role in developing novel materials and processes in areas such as:

• Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell electrode assemblies

• Hydrogen storage and separation materials

• Solid oxide fuel cell interconnects, cathodes, and solid electrolytes

SwRI Fuel Cell Experience

Specific areas of effort and interest include:

• Large-area, low-cost vacuum catalyzation methods for PEM fuel cell electrodes

• Novel carbon structures as catalyst supports and hydrogen storage media

• Ultrathin precious-metal separation membranes

• Surface-modified ferrous alloys and ceramics to provide improved resistance to oxidation and carbon buildup

• Material property, surface, and interface prediction through molecular simulation

• Electrochemical process modeling

Fuel Cell Capabilities

General capabilities related to fuel cell materials include:

• Material specification and selection

• Material characterization

• Complex dielectric permittivity (temperature dependent)

• Ionic conductivity (temperature dependent)

• Electrochemical and impedance behavior

• Thermodynamic properties

• Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) lay-up and fabrication

• Polymer and organic synthesis

• Ceramic processing

For more information about material sciences capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Joe Redfield at jredfield@swri.org or (210)

 522-3729.

| Engine and Vehicle R&D | Engine, Emissions & Vehicle Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

September 30, 2008