Senior Investigators: Prof. William Jones (U. Rochester), Prof. Jim Mayer (U. Wash.).

Fuel cells are potentially very efficient ways to convert chemical potential energy to electrical energy. Fuel cells are being widely studied as replacements for internal combustion engines in vehicles, as replacements for batteries in portable electronic devices, and as part of energy storage systems. However, there are still a number of challenges to be overcome before fuel cells are economically competitive in these and other applications. An important goal is to improve the catalytic efficiency and reduce the cost of the electrode materials where oxidation and reduction occur. Most current fuel cell electrodes use precious and scarce metals such as platinum, or function only at high temperatures

The electrochemical potential for methanol oxidation is near zero, and coupled with reduction of oxygen, provides ample electrical potential for a fuel cell. In comparison with a hydrogen fuel cell, the direct use of a liquid fuel would avoid the need for a reforming unit. Important basic science goals in methanol fuel cell development include: (1) new low-cost electrocatalyst materials, (2) new methods of preparing fuel cell electrodes that will reduce the amount of noble metal used, and (3) improved performance and lifetime. Work is currently being carried out to investigate the electrocatalytic oxidations of organic molecules by heterogeneous catalysts to find new electrodes materials that will be suitable for use in commercial methanol fuel cells.