Low-cost electrodes for fuel cells

AFC Energy, the developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells, has successfully completed trials of its non-platinum-based electrodes for fuel cells.

The tests, which were conducted at AkzoNobel’s chlor-alkali plant in Bitterfeld, Germany, showed that the electrical charge fed into the grid from AFC’s fuel cells were on the same level as fuel cells developed using platinum-based electrodes.

According to the Surrey-based group, the use of non-platinum-based material allows its system to be significantly cheaper. It has now applied for four patents relating to its design and said that the field tests at Bitterfeld were an important step towards full-scale operation.

The company plans to focus on delivering commercially viable fuel-cell systems to the chlor-alkali industry for stationary power generation. It also hopes to target markets that require electricity from hydrogen, including the waste-to-energy market.

As part of plans to do this, AFC is upgrading its development facility and said that work was now close to completion. The changes are aimed at reducing the time taken to develop and optimise electrode materials and to allow the company to rapidly manufacture sufficient product for its initial requirements.