Achievement

Dr Plamen Atanassov and his group has developed a direct hydrazine hydrate fuel cell that uses a anion exchange polymer electrolyte membrane, as opposed to the proton-exchange membranes that are popular today. The membrane allows the use of non-platinum group metal (Non-PGM) catalysts for both oxidation of fuel on the anode and oxygen reduction on the cathode. The Non-PGM catalysts are stable in an alkaline media and thus can fully replace platinum catalyst. This technology was the basis of the Platinum Metal-free Liquid Fuel Car (PMfLFC) that was first introduced by Daihatsu at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in December 2009. In just under three years, the IGERT team developed the catalysts needed for the fully operational FC showcase. In the course of this project both a solely and jointly owned IP has been created. UNM participated in technology scale-up with one company and in forward integration with another to ultimately transfer this technology.