Fuel cells historical development

Although a brief summary of the history of these systems is given here, detailed historical summaries of the various fuel cell technology development can be found in many resources. 

By the time the next overview of electrical properties of polymers was published (Blythe 1979), besides a detailed treatment of dielectric properties it included a chapter on conduction, both ionic and electronic. To take ionic conduction first, ion-exchange membranes as separation tools for electrolytes go back a long way historically, to the beginning of the twentieth century a polymeric membrane semipermeable to ions was first used in 1950 for the desalination of water (Jusa and McRae 1950). This kind of membrane is surveyed in detail by Strathmann (1994). Much more recently, highly developed polymeric membranes began to be used as electrolytes for experimental rechargeable batteries and, with particular success, for fuel cells. This important use is further discussed in Chapter 11. 

Very recently, Kordesch ( 1), presented an excellent and detailed historical review of the past 25 years of fuel cell development. 

The experiences of the past few decades, however, provide a rich and unique historical perspective to examine new government transportation strategies. Three Asilomar presentations look to past experiences for lessons learned. The first two chapters are.by alternative fuel veterans from the DOE and DaimlerChrysler, and the third by two experienced alternative fuel researchers. All three chapters assess past experiences with technology development, investment, and regulation and policy. They offer perspectives on how hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can best be promoted by the government to avoid the pitfalls that hampered past efforts. 

HISTORIC ASPECTS OF FUEL CELL DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE... 

Abstract This paper is an historical essay on development of fuel cell technologies in... 

Historic Aspects Of Fuel Cell Development In Ukraine... 

In the following, the catalysts that have been investigated for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) will be presented. No attempt will be made to be exhaustive neither in terms of all the materials that have been studied nor in terms of the historical development of those materials. Most of the initial studies of the electrocatalysis of the MOR were carried out on massive electrodes and using electrochemical techniques. Later, the feasibility of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) precluded the use of massive electrodes. Electrochemical reactions are surface reactions, so it is apparent that there is much to be gained by using large surface area electrodes, which led to the development of diffusion electrodes where the catalyst is in the form of nanoparticles. These electrodes have large specific surface areas which not only favor intrinsically the reaction but also allow for the use of minimal amounts of catalyst metals, usually rather expensive and, in some cases, scarce. 

In the first chapter, we introduce the concept of methanol economy, as an alternative to the most popular but still elusive hydrogen economy, and we also provide a brief historical description of fundamental research on electrochemical oxidation of methanol and the development of the first alkaline direct methanol fuel cells more than 60 years ago. The operating principles of PEM and alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells are analyzed, as well as their components, configuration, and operation modes, with a final remark on the state of the art of the technology. 

The following ordering of fuel cell types does not reflect the historical development of the various fuel cell technologies. 

Figure 2.6 Historical alkaline fuel cell (AFC) market development 12...

Table 7.6 Historical stationary fuel cell development in South Korea...

More recently, fuel cell technology has moved towards portable applications, historically the domain of batteries, with power levels from less than 1 to about 100 watts, blurring the distinction between batteries and fuel cells. Metal/air batteries (see Chap. 38), particularly those in which the metal is periodically replaced, can be considered a fuel cell with the metal being the fuel. Similarly, small fuel cells, now under development, which are refueled by replacing an ampule of fuel can be considered a battery. ... 

Classification of fuel cells by temperature is becoming more blurred, however, since a current SOFC research focus is lower temperature (<600°C) operation to improve start-up time, cost and durability, while a focus of PEFC research has been to increase operation temperature to > 120°C to improve waste heat rejection and water management. The ideal temperature seems to be around 150-200°C which is where the PAFC typically operates. However, the PAFC has its own historical limitations which have hampered enthusiasm for its continued development. 

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