Laboratory Equipment

West Midlands scientists have created and studied new materials set to make low-carbon energy technologies, like fuel cells, cheaper and more efficient to run. Collaborative research efforts involving the Univ. of Warwick and Univ. of Birmingham have paved the way for improved efficiency in fuel cells to be used in homes, buildings, construction sites, war zones or anywhere where isolated forms of power generation are required.

Many major companies use fuel cell systems and in the UK, for example, some are even looking at trialling this technology as a replacement for gas boilers. Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into water and in the process produce electricity, making them an attractive form of low-carbon energy. However, they operate at very high temperatures and take a long time to reach and stabilise at these operational temperatures.

By introducing the new materials - known as rare-earth apatites - into their design, the working temperatures and the time needed to reach them will be reduced, improving operational aspects of the device and making it more efficient.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-rare-earth-minerals-improve-fuel-cell-efficiency-040912.aspx

Hydrogen fuel cells, like those found in some “green” vehicles, have a lot of promise as an alternative fuel source, but making them practical on a large scale requires them to be more efficient and cost effective. A research team from the Univ. of Central Florida may have found a way around both hurdles.

The majority of hydrogen fuel cells use catalysts made of a rare and expensive metal – platinum. There are few alternatives because most elements can’t endure the fuel cell’s highly acidic solvents present in the reaction that converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electrical power. Only four elements can resist the corrosive process – platinum, iridium, gold and palladium. The first two are rare and expensive, which makes them impractical for large-scale use. The other two don’t do well with the chemical reaction.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Method-Makes-Hydrogen-Fuel-Cells-Cheaper-Efficient-031612.aspx

The biggest challenge with hydrogen-powered fuel cells lies in the storage of hydrogen: how to store enough of it, in a safe and cost-effective manner, to power a vehicle for 300 miles? Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is aiming to solve this problem by synthesizing novel materials with high hydrogen adsorption capacities. The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Berkeley Lab a three-year, $2.1 million grant for the project, which will also include contributions by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and General Motors (GM). The grant was part of more than $7 million awarded by DOE last month for hydrogen storage technologies in fuel cell electric vehicles.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Synthesized-Materials-Store-Hydrogen-012712.aspx