Fuel cells are more than 150 years old. Serious research about efficiency, size and durability didn’t begin until the last few decades. We are still at the beginning of an exciting technology, and every day scientists and engineers make new breakthroughs that we may one day see in the products we use and buy.

Microbial fuel cells
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) directly convert organic matter to electricity using bacteria. An MFC can make electricity using any biodegradable material, including wastewater. Penn State is one of several universities working to develop MFCs that can generate electricity while treating wastewater.

Materials-based hydrogen storage
Materials-based storage means that the molecules of hydrogen are stored inside the molecules of a another substance. Hydrogen can be absorbed directly into a material, such as a metal hydride, creating something like a metal sponge. Adsorption is another material-based storage mechanism in which hydrogen can be forced to have a weak, easily broken chemical bond with another substance. Somewhat like mixing oil and water.

Alkaline membranes
Professor Yushan Yan of UC Riverside and associates have developed an alkaline membrane that they believe will one day replace the membranes currently used in fuel cells. The alkaline membrane will enable catalysts that are composed of elements such as cobalt, nickel, iron and silver, instead of relying on platinum as fuel cells do today. This could significantly reduce the costs of fuel cell stacks.