Catalyst developer Acta has announced a potentially important breakthrough in the development of hydrogen fuel cells.

The company has demonstrated its latest catalyst for hydrogen generation, which uses ammonia to produce the hydrogen gas used in fuel cells.

The move is an important step because ammonia is one of the most practical hydrogen carriers, meaning that it is ideal for the transportation of hydrogen, making it an ideal substance for use in mobile fuel cells such as those used in cars.

Acta demonstrated a working model of its electrolyser catalyst at Tokyo's Fuel Cell Expo, which is the largest fuel cell exhibition anywhere in the world.

This latest development could be crucial to the future of fuel cell vehicles, because the ammonia can be stored in the tank and Acta's catalyst uses less power than the fuel cell itself, meaning the fuel cell itself can power both the car and the electrolyser.

A water electrolyser, used in most fuel cell vehicles at present, uses more power than can be generated by the fuel cell itself.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd