Univ. of Delaware Establishes Center for Fuel Cell Research

14 December 2008

The University of Delaware has established the Center for Fuel Cell Research (CFCR) with the goals of improving fuel cell performance, power density, efficiency, and durability while enabling cost-effective manufacturing and commercialization. Hydrogen production, storage, and distribution are also major research topics.

The CFCR will conduct fundamental and applied research in fuel cells including novel cost-effective materials and architectures for the electrolyte, electrocatalysts, catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer, and bipolar plates; two-phase flow and transport; durability under cyclical hygrothermal loading; new strategies for water and heat management; freeze-resistant stacks; and improved tolerance to contaminants in the fuel and oxidant streams.

Ajay Prasad, professor of mechanical engineering, founded the center and is serving as its first director.

Important components of the center’s mission are technology transfer to industry and public outreach to educate the community about the benefits of fuel cells through programs such as the University’s fuel cell bus.

Prasad sees three barriers to widespread adoption of fuel cell technology: cost, durability, and the lack of a hydrogen infrastructure. CFCR research is addressing issues related to all three. The CFCR is part of the overall energy research effort encompassed by the recently launched University of Delaware Energy Institute (UDEI).