JPL-Developed Clean Energy Technology Moves Forward

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE 818-354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Priscilla Vega 818-354-1357
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Priscilla.r.vega@jpl.nasa.gov

Feature: 2011-163 May 26, 2011

JPL-Developed Clean Energy Technology Moves Forward

The full version of this story with accompanying images is at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-163&cid=release_2011-163

A team of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in partnership with
the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, developed a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
technology for future Department of Defense and commercial applications. Recently, USC and
the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, which manages JPL for NASA, awarded a
license to SFC Energy, Inc., the U.S. affiliate of SFC Energy AG. The non-exclusive license for
the technology will facilitate the expansion of the company's methanol fuel cell products into the
U.S. market.

This novel fuel cell technology uses liquid methanol as a fuel to produce electrical energy, and
does not require any fuel processing. Pure water and carbon dioxide are the only byproducts of
the fuel cell, and no pollutants are emitted. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells offer several advantages
over other current fuel cell systems, especially with regard to simplicity of design and higher
energy density. Current systems rely on hydrogen gas, a substance that is more difficult to
transport and store.

"JPL invented the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell concept and also made significant contributions to
all the facets of the technology. These contributions include: development of advanced catalyst
materials, high-performance fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, compact fuel cell stacks,
and system designs," said JPL Power Technology Program Manager Rao Surampudi. He
explained that USC worked with JPL in the development and advancement of this technology
for defense and commercial applications.

Over the years, those applications have expanded from the original defense applications to
include such uses as battery chargers for consumer electronics, electric vehicles, stand-alone
power systems, and uninterrupted/emergency power supplies.

"We are looking forward to working closely with the fuel cell industry to further develop this
technology to meet future market needs," said Erik Brandon, current Electrochemical
Technologies group supervisor at JPL.

From 1989 to 1998, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded JPL
and USC to develop direct methanol fuel cells for future defense applications. Inventors on the
JPL team include Surampudi, Sri. R. Narayanan, Harvey Frank, Thomas Valdez, Andrew
Kindler, Eugene Vamos and Gerald Halpert. The USC inventor team includes G.K. Surya
Prakash, Marshall Smart and Nobel Laureate George Olah.

"This fuel cell may well become the power source of choice for energy-efficient, non-polluting
military and consumer applications," said Gerald Halpert, former Electrochemical Technologies
group supervisor at JPL.

More detailed information on the technology is online at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/releases/97/fuelcel3.html .

The Caltech and NASA technology transfer programs are designed to help U.S. companies
improve their competitive positions in the global economy by transferring JPL technology into
the marketplace.

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