Studies of Electrocatalyst and Metallic Bipolar Plate for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells are attractive electrochemical devices for constructing a hydrogen energy society. The actual fuel cells consist of polymer membrane, electrocatalysts, gas diffusion layers, bipolar plates, and end plates. From the viewpoint of saving resources, herein we have described three kinds of research have been conducted. The first involved reducing the amount of anode Pt electrocatalyst. The second involved development of reaction selectivity in the electrocatalyst for a direct methanol fuel cell because the bipolar plates can be removed from the direct methanol fuel cell system. The third involved improvement of corrosion resistance of metallic bipolar plates using ferric stainless steel. (C) The Electrochemical Society of Japan, All rights reserved.