LANL fuel-cell paper declared a “classic”

November 10, 2010—The Electrochemical Society recently deemed a LANL research article, "Polymer Electrolyte Fuel-Cell Model," a "classic" paper for its significant impact on fuel-cell research. The article focused on the development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) model that enabled efficient and clean energy conversion.

Published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society in 1991, the paper is the journal’s third most cited paper, with more than 500 citations. The authors were Tom Springer, Shimshon Gottesfeld, and Tom Zawodzinski.

The Electrochemical Society published the Classics paper edition of its journal in a special issue celebrating the scientific contributions of its members. The Electrochemical Society divisions selected JES papers that had maximal impact on their technical activities.

The Lab scientists conducted experiments to examine the key materials that enabled and limited polymer electrolyte fuel-cell (PEFC) performance: oxygen reduction reaction on platinum catalysts and water movement and migration in the proton-exchange membranes. The paper is complete with experimental data, modeling equations, model validation, and optimization scenarios.

The paper also demonstrates how to use a model to explore optimization strategies and variable space not readily available experimentally. At the time of publication, there was no way to visualize water content within the cell or to estimate potential distributions through the thickness of the membrane. Only by modeling, could scientists look "inside" the polymer electrolyte and isolate the effects of various phenomena. The researchers accomplished this before today's availability of fast computers, commercial software packages, and inexpensive multicore processors.

The paper forms the basis for modern modeling efforts for PEFCs. According to a JES Classics article discussing the impact of the paper, the research in the early 1990s “ushered in a new era in understanding of PEFC operation and phenomena. It stands at the forefront of a now rich community dedicated to the use of mathematical modeling to describe, explain, and optimize performance of fuel cells.”

The paper also explained that the research “stands the test of time both in analysis and presentation, demonstrating that relatively simple analyses, if done correctly, can provide extensive knowledge and insights into PEFC operation.”

The original publication credits the DOE Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy for funding the work. Fuel cell research continues at LANL as an important part of the Laboratory's Energy Security mission area.

The Electrochemical Society, with more than 8,000 scientists and engineers in more than 70 countries, is an international nonprofit, educational organization concerned with a broad range of phenomena relating to electrochemical and solid-state science and technology.