UCLA Researchers Develop Cheaper, More Efficient Fuel Cells
University of California-Los Angeles | Friday, Jun 12, 2015
A team led by researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has developed nanostructures made from a compound of three metals that increases the efficiency and durability of fuel cells while lowering the cost to produce them. Their solution addresses vexing problems that have stalled the adoption of this technology.
Yu Huang, a UCLA associate professor of materials science and engineering, was the principal investigator of the research, which was published in the June 12 issue of Science.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells have shown great promise as a clean energy technology with numerous applications including zero-emission vehicles. The fuel cells work by causing hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to react to produce electricity, and the exhaust they create is water — rather than the pollutants and greenhouse gases emitted by traditional car engines.
The chemical processes that take place in proton exchange membrane fuel cells are catalyzed by metals. One of those processes is an oxygen reduction reaction, which has typically used platinum as its catalyst. But the high cost of platinum has been a major factor in hindering wider adoption of fuel cells. Scientists have studied alternative catalysts — including using a platinum–nickel compound — but to date, none has been durable enough to be a viable solution...
MORE: http://scvnews.com/2015/06/12/ucla-researchers-develop-cheaper-more-efficient-fuel-cells/
These kinds of advances might have happened 6 years ago if Obama didn't cut the R&D funding for Fuel Cells. Apparently he thought Fracking was more important.
Obama, DOE slash hydrogen fuel cell funding in new budget
May 8, 2009
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/08/obama-doe-slash-hydrogen-fuel-cell-funding-in-new-budget/
Greens: Obama caved on fracking
03/24/15
Environmental groups say President Obama squandered the best opportunity he had to tighten regulations on the process of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236700-environmentalists-obama-caved-on-fracking
How Hillary Clinton's State Department Sold Fracking to the World
A trove of secret documents details the US government's global push for shale gas.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/09/hillary-clinton-fracking-shale-state-department-chevron
