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WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 26, 2005 – As part of its strategy to enable the advancement of fuel cell technology, DuPont Fuel Cells today announced product improvements that dramatically increase the durability and lifetime of fuel cell membranes, dispersions and Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) components for hydrogen based fuel cells. Following the May 2005 introduction of the more powerful, longer running DuPont Gen IV direct methanol MEA technology, and additional developments currently under way, DuPont continues to deliver technologies essential to help make fuel cells a commercial reality in applications such as consumer electronics, residential power and automotive.
“We’re very excited about bringing these technologies to market to enable improvements in fuel cell performance,” said Richard Okine, technology director, DuPont Fuel Cells. “Fundamental science is key to our progress; and as the fuel cell industry evolves, DuPont continues to prove its leadership by bringing innovation to the market. We’ve made important progress in developing more powerful, durable and longer lasting materials. Just as we have demonstrated with Gen IV technology for direct methanol fuel cells, this latest improvement in polymer chemical stability brings significant durability in components for hydrogen fuel cell systems. Further developments are focused on providing additional mechanical stability, longer life and more power from our membrane and MEA offerings, and doing so even more cost effectively.”
DuPont polymers with improved chemical stability prolong durability and lifetime in a fuel cell because they are less vulnerable to the degrading effects of chemical attack on the polymer. Fluoride ion release and the resulting membrane thinning are common measures of membrane chemical attack. The rate of fluoride ion release is a measure of life expectancy. Extensive testing by DuPont has shown eight- to ten-fold improvement in oxidative stability, and greater than four-fold reduction in OCV decay with the recently introduced chemically stabilized products. The lifetime of chemically stabilized membranes has been increased by a factor of seven, while other physical and mechanical properties of membrane and dispersion remain the same (see graph).
DuPont Fuel Cells is a technology and market development organization enabling the advancement of fuel cell technology and products with leading players in the industry. By driving the technology to make fuel cells a commercial reality in the near and long term, its mission is to become the leading global supplier of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell membranes and components, to power automobiles, electronics, and residences. For more information, please visit http://www.fuelcells.dupont.com.
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
Contact:
Ellen G. Pressley
919-248-5598
ellen.g.pressley@usa.dupont.com
DuPont Fuel Cells
Chestnut Run Plaza
4417 Lancaster Pike
PO Box 80705
Wilmington, DE 19805
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
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