High Performance Fuel Cell Electrodes

At a Glance

• Low Precious Metal Loadings
• High Catalytic Activity
• Easily Manufacturable
• Process Control
• Patented Technology

Fuel Cells Equipped with PSI's High Performance Electrodes for Efficient and Clean Energy Sources are Shown Here in a Stack

PSI's Fuel Cell Electrodes Offer Clean Power Source for the Future

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is developing economical and high performance fuel cell electrodes utilizing our own patented preparation technique. Electrodes prepared using this technique offer the advantage of high performance at reduced precious metal catalyst loadings. These electrodes are being developed for use in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) which offer the promise of being a low temperature, compact, environmentally clean power source of the future.

Potential commercial applications for these fuel cells range from remote site power generation to the next generation of electric vehicles. Presently, PSI's electrode technology is being evaluated through collaborations with a number of fuel cell manufacturers in order to quantify its overall impact on the performance and economics of the fuel cell system.

The Technology

PSI's fuel cell electrodes are manufactured by a patented Electrochemical Catalyzation (ECC) process that electrodeposits the catalyst at specific sites in the electrode. The end result of this fabrication process is an electrode that has the catalyst placed in the most strategic locations to give high fuel cell performance. Continuous feedback during the electrodeposition process helps to monitor the catalyst loading so that excess precious metal catalyst is not wasted.

Features of PSI's Fuel Cell Electrodes

• Platinum loadings as low as 0.05 mg/cm²
• Proven performance up to 11 x 11 in. sizes
• Manufacturable by high volume electrodeposition techniques
• Continous feedback during manufacture gives exceptional process control
• Uses uniary or binary alloy electrocatalyst depending on fuel and oxidant streams

Other Electrode Applications

Physical Sciences Inc. continues to utilize its expertise in gas diffusion electrode technology, high surface area precious metal catalyst development and periodic current electrodeposition to develop electrodes and electrocatalysts specifically tailored for applications in addition to the fuel cell market. Through various government and industrial collaborations, electrode technology is being developed for electrochemical synthesis and advanced batteries as well as fuel cells operating on alternate fuels.

Electrode Development:

• Fuel Cells:
  • Polymer Electrolyte
  • Direct Methanol
  • Alkaline
  • Phosphoric Acid
• Electrosynthesis:
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Caustic Soda
  • HCl
• Advanced Batteries:
  • Li-ion
  • Pb Acid
• Sensors:
  • Oxygen
  • H₂S
  • Glucose

Electrocatalyst Development:

• Platinum
• Platinum Alloys
• Gold
• Mixed Metal Oxides

Since 1973, Physical Sciences Inc. has been a leader in advancing the state of technology in applications ranging from lasers and electro-optics to electrochemistry. Our fuel cell electrodes are just one of many technologies at PSI designed to meet today's stringent environmental and cost requirements.

John D. Lennhoff Physical Sciences Inc. 20 New England Business Center Andover, MA 01810-1077 Telephone: (978) 689-0003 Fax: (978) 689-3232 lennhoff@psicorp.com