A new reactor developed by US scientists could hold the key to extending the life of fuel cell electrocatalysts.

Work being pioneered by chemical engineering professor, Yi Hua Ma, has concentrated on some of the obstacles preventing the efficacy of automotive fuel cells.

By using a reactor that works with a fine layer of palladium Professor Ma is able to reduce the 'poison' effect on the catalyst which ultimately prevents it from functioning properly when fuelling vehicles.

Working together with Shell International Exploration & Production and Shell Hydrogen, the American scientist has successfully created an effective pgm filter.

The filter prevents anything but pure hydrogen from passing through, meaning the catalyst at the heart of the cell lasts longer and works more effectively.

Shell says it is hoping to make the device the centrepiece of its hydrogen automotive strategy within a decade, with clean automotive technology becoming increasingly advanced.

Only this week a new technique using nano-scale pieces of copper and platinum wire was revealed, which would enable scientists to develop a fuel cell just 200 nanometers in width.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd