Fuel Cells

Fuel Cell Technology

Fuel cells are electro-chemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen, by setting up an electrical charge across a membrane. This design produces a steady flow of electricity with no moving parts. A fuel cell system can utilize the hydrogen from any other source like gasoline, natural gas or methanol, thereby turning a waste gas source into a liquid commodity chemical, and contribute to reducing the emissions of industrial operations.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC's) are constructed with a ceramic electrolyte, anode and cathode and either a metal or ceramic interconnect. SOFC's are attractive because of their ability to oxidize many fuel sources and their high efficiency.

Faculty at UMD are engaged in many aspects of fuel cell research and development including: 

  •  Microbial fuel cells - a bio-electrochemical system that uses bacteria as the catalyst to oxidize organic and inorganic matter, and consequently, generate electric current. Applications include   power generation systems, bio-recovery, waste-water treatment, etc.
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) ​​​​​​Fuel Cells - deliver high power density and offer the advantages of low weight and volume compared with other fuel cells. PEM fuel cells use a solid polymer as an electrolyte and porous carbon electrodes containing a platinum or platinum alloy catalyst.
  • Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) - use a hard, non-porous ceramic compound as the electrolyte. SOFCs operate at very high temperatures which removes the need for precious-metal catalyst, thereby reducing cost. 

University Spin-Offs in Fuel Cell Technology

  • Alchemity - Alchemity is developing technologies and applications in the energy industry using ion-conducting ceramics, from electric power through advanced solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to Fuels & Chemicals through integrated catalytic membrane reactors.

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