Perspectives
of PEMFC and DMFC for Future Applications
Department of
Physics, E 19, „Interfaces and Energy Conversion”
Technische Universität München
and
Bavarian Center
for Applied Energy Research (ZAE)
D-85748
Garching, Germany
In fuel cell development low temperature fuel cells such as PEMFC and DMFC are considered most important since the moderate temperatures avoid many materials problems that are encountered at higher operating temperatures and because of the advancement in stack development in PEMFC toward high power densities. The suitability of a particular fuel cell type depends however strongly on the particular application with respect to stationary, mobile or portable and the required total electric power necessary. Criteria can vary strongly and the relative priority of aspects such as fuel, performance, lifetime, costs, weight, volume depend on the particular application. Various PEMFC systems and their respective elements will be discussed together with aspects of materials development for PEMFC and DMFC.