The operation of polymer electrolyte (PEM) fuel cells at temperatures above
150 oC offers very significant advantages.

Among others, the tolerance of the catalyst is increased allowing the use of
reformed hydrogen with high CO content, the kinetics of both electrodes is
enhanced and the thermal management is easier comparing to the conventional
PEM fuel cells.

One of the main activities of ADVENT TECHNOLOGIES S.A, is focused on the systematic development and production of polymer membranes that can be used as electrolytes for high temperature PEM fuel cells. The technology is based on polymer blends or pure proprietary polymers. All these materials show the following properties:

• high protonic conductivity (ó~6.5 102 S/cm)
• very good mechanical properties (Tg>280oC)
• chemical stability
• low cost
• capability for fabrication into membrane electrode assemblies

Because of their ability to be used as high temperature electrolytes, fuel cells made using ADVENT polymers meet all the aforementioned advantages of high operation temperature including the reduced complexity of the system and the lower cost. One of the most challenging concepts in PEM fuel cell technology is the design and development of non noble metal electrocatalysts thus trying to minimize or/and diminish Pt loading in the gas diffusion electrodes. ADVENT TECHNOLOGIES is aiming at the development of composite materials for the manufacture of three-layered electrodes, based on our new high temperature (HT) membranes.

Therefore our effort focuses on developing new anodic and cathodic electrocatalysts based on non noble metals. The combination of these new electrocatalysts with our HT membrane leads to High-Temperature PEM fuel cell stacks with innovative advantages, such as:

• High power efficiency.
• High CO tolerance.
• Use of reformate stream.
• High power-to-volume ratio.
• Cost-effective fuel cell systems.