Fuel Cell Membranes & Materials
![Hydrogen fuel cell Image showing hydrogen fuel cell as alternative energy source in lab setting](/deepweb/assets/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/images/categories/energy-materials/hydrogen-fuel-cell/hydrogen-fuel-cell.jpg)
As sustainable, renewable energy sources, fuel cells generate electrical energy through a reverse electrolysis reaction between a hydrogen-rich fuel source and oxygen. Fuel cells can operate higher efficiencies relative to traditional combustion engines and lower emissions, often producing only heat and water as waste products. This clean and efficient source of electricity can be scaled up for power plant applications or scaled down for transport or portable power applications. Current research is focused on improving the performance and durability of fuel cell technology while reducing costs, such as developing ion-exchange membrane electrolytes and improving membrane electrode assemblies.
Our fuel cell and membrane materials provide superior properties, such as high proton conductivity, high chemical and thermal stability, and low gas permeability for fuel cell components. We offer platinum and platinum alloys, doped-platinum catalysts, and alternative platinum-deposition materials for high activation of fuel cell catalysts.
Products
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)
Solid oxide fuel cells use a solid oxide electrolyte to conduct negative oxygen ions from the fuel cell cathode to the anode. Our solid oxide materials include a variety of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM), gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC), and other ceramic materials specifically designed for improving the durability and performance of SOFC applications.
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
In PEM fuel cells, a polymer membrane conducts protons from the anode to the cathode while blocking electrons, using water electrolysis to produce energy. For PEM fuel cells we offer materials with high proton conductivity, high chemical and thermal stability, and low gas permeability properties, including polymeric materials and fluorinated polymers functionalized with sulphonic acid moieties, such as Nafion™ membranes.
Related Product Resources
- Article: Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells operate at relatively low temperatures and are composed of two electrodes and a conductive elecrolyte.
- Article: Materials for Thin Film Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (TF-SOFCs)
Thin film solid oxide fuel cells offer technical advantages; review of TF-SOFC deposition methods for electrolyte thin films.
- Article: Advances in Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
As with all types of fuel cells, a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is capable of efficiently transforming chemical energy into electrical energy.
- Article: Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes for Fuel Cell and Electrolyser Applications
Advances in electrochemical water conversion and understanding PEMFC degradation drive progress in hydrogen technologies.
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