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Mahesh

01/08/22 23:14 PM IST

World’s Most Durable Hydrogen Fuel Cell

In News 
  • A new hydrogen fuel cell has been developed by scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Not only is it the world’s most durable to date, but it is also more cost-effective, paving the way for a wider application of green energy in the pursuit of a carbon-neutral world.
Hydrogen fuel cells 
  • They generate power efficiently by converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity.
  • Zero carbon dioxide, particulate matter and other air pollutants are emitted in the process.
  • Hydrogen fuel cells are not yet widely commercialized, despite they have several environmental benefits. This is so, because power generation capabilities of hydrogen fuel cell depend on an electrocatalyst. The electrocatalyst earlier comprised of very expensive and rare metal platinum.
  • Thus, researchers have tried to develop its alternatives by replacing platinum with more common and inexpensive materials such as iron, nitrogen or carbon.
  • However, these alternative materials have either been proven inefficient in power generation or had poor durability.
About Discovery 
  • This formula will reduce the proportion of platinum used by 80%. It will also set a record with respect to durability level of cell.
  • The new cell managed to maintain platinum catalytic activity at 97% after 100,000 cycles of accelerated stress test, as against the current catalyst whose performance reduced by 50% in 30,000 cycles. No performance decay was reported in new fuel cell, after operating for 200 hours.
Source- Indian Express 

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