Hydrogen Program

Here is a brief overview of present and past programs that have been funded under the Hydrogen Program.

Nanocatalyst Development Employing Electrically Mediated Processing for Hydrogen Generation

Organization Partners: Faraday Total program award value of $360,287 A low-cost, mass production fabrication technology for catalyzation of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzers and regenerative fuel cells Program will enable high cost electrode catalysts to be used more efficiently, reducing cost of MEAs

Novel Stackable Structured Reactor (SSR) for Low-Cost Hydrogen Production (Phase II)

Organization Partners: Catacel Total program award value of $528,737 Novel Spiral Stackable Reactor (SSR) for low-cost stationary hydrogen production Validate long-term catalyst and mechanical durability under expected operating conditions, prepare for manufacturing and quality control needs, demonstrate that SSR is superior in a real environment and prepare for full commercialization. Collaborators on the project include the University of Toledo and ENSPEC Engineering.

Low Cost MEMS Hydrogen Sensor for Transportation Safety (Phase II)

Organization Partners: Makel Total program award value of $582,656 Advanced hydrogen sensor system for hydrogen powered transportation applications Refine prototype sensor based on commercial product requirements, develop next generation on-vehicle sensor system, and demonstrate prototype on commerical system. Collaborators on the project include Argonne National Laboratory, Ford Motor Company and Mihindra & Mahindra Ltd..

Development of Improved Materials for Integrated Photovoltaic-Electrolysis Hydrogen Generation Systems

Organization Partners: MWOE Total program award value of $674,875 Small scale manufacturing process for its integrated photovoltaic electrolysis (IPE) panel. This cost effective technology produces hydrogen from water using sunlight Collaborators on project include the University of Toledo, Energy Photovoltaic, Inc, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Commercialization of EM Solid State Welding for High Pressure Hydrogen Storage

Organization Partners: IAP Total program award value of $324,769 Electromagnetic (EM) solid state welding process Process will meet the requirements for future hydrogen storage applications

Novel Ceramic Hydrogen Sensors for Fuel Cell Applications (Phase II)

Organization Partners: NexTech Materials, Ltd. Total program award value of $405,529 Move the hydrogen sensor technology from laboratory scale prototype to a scaleable pre-production hydrogen safety sensor module that can be incorporated into small stationary fuel cells.

High Strength, Low Cost Microballoons for Hydrogen Storage

Organization Partners: Powdermet, Inc. Total program award value of $218,266 Advancing the microsphere hydrogen storage concept by developing a low cost, commercial source for very high strength, engineered/tailored microspheres Collaborators on the project include US Air Force Research Laboratory

Novel Intermediate-Temperature Reversible SOFC for a Renewable Energy System that can Co-produce Power and Hydrogen Organization

Organization Partners: National Fuel Cell Research Center Total program award value of $224,085 Determine the technical and market feasibility of a novel materials set for intermediate-temperature reversible SOFCs Collaborators on the project include Southern California Edison

Electrochemical Coal Gasification with Novel Electrodes

Organization Partners: Ohio University Total program award value of $70,070 Evaluate the feasibility of electrolyzing coal slurries at high temperatures to provide a scale-up design for alternative applications for the production of hydrogen

Fabrication of Metal-Carbon Nanostructure Composites

Organization Partners: University of Toledo Total program award value of $73,334 Address the need for developing novel and compact systems based on metalized-carbon nanostructures with enhanced hydrogen uptake

Novel Materials for Reversible Hydrogen Storage

Organization Partners: Hy-Energy Total program award value of $232,588 Develop lightweight hydrogen storage system based on novel alkali/transition-metal-amides Collaborators on the project include Stanford University

Development of Complex Metal Hydrides for Hydrogen Storage Applications

Organization Partners: GFS Chemicals Total program award value of $197,092 Determine the feasibility of developing simple, better performing, innovative and/or cost-effective hydrogen technologies by improving materials and manufacturing processes Collaborators on the project include University of Dayton Research Institute and Diazem Corporation

Reel to Reel Processing for Continuous Thermal Pressing of the Catalyst Film onto a Membrane for the High Volume, Low Cost Commercialization of Hydrogen Generating Membrane Electrolyte Assemblies

Organization Partners: Precision Energy & Technology Total program award value of $216,896 Modify reel to reel processing equipment by designing, manufacturing, assembling, and installing a pair of thermally controlled rollers that act to capture the catalyst layer film with a Nafion-type membrane

Scalable Steam Methane Reformer System for Distributed Hydrogen Production

Organization Partners: Catacel Corporation Total program award value of $209,998 Demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility of a scalable steam methane reformer system for the distributed production of hydrogen. Collaborators on the project include the University of Toledo.

Development of High Pressure Electrolyzers for Backup Power Systems

Organization Partners: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. Total program award value of $207,526 Development of high value backup power systems as a replacement for valve regulated lead acid batteries and commercial generator sets.

Low-Cost Manufacturing of Multi-Fuel Reactors for an Innovative High-Efficiency Planar Reformer

Organization Partners: Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC Total program award value of $219,084 Developing capable manufacturing technologies to produce high quality thin material reactor designs that can be viable for commercialization in three to five years. Collaborators on the project include Edison Welding Institute.

An Innovative and Cost-Effective Micro-Process for Roll-to-Roll Solution Casting of Multi-Layer Proton Exchange Membranes with Superior Performance, Transport and Mechanical Properties in High Temperature / Low RH Operating Environments

Organization Partners: Chemsultants, Inc. Total program award value of $203,657 Prove the feasibility of a new manufacturing process for roll-to-roll production of multi-layer PEMs based on interspersed, discrete layers of hydrophilic Zirconium particles and recast Nafion polymer developed by CWRU that will be solution cast in a layered structure via a novel, advanced process to manufacture thin caliper membranes. Collaborators on the project include Case Western Reserve University.

Preparation of Nanoscale Tubular Membrane for Hydrogen Purification/Separation

Organization Partners: UltraCell Corporation Total program award value of $425,000 Micro-reforming is a novel way to generate hydrogen to support the hydrogen economy. Goal is to transition this technology into high volume manufacturing.

Preparation of Nanoscale Tubular Membrane for Hydrogen Purification/Separation

Organization Partners: MetaMateria Partners, LLC Total program award value of $210,000 Demonstrate the feasibility of making an inorganic membrane with a graded porous structure that provides high hydrogen flux. Optimize the entire porous architecture of the support/membrane combination, while taking into account the applicability of subsequent layers and mechanical strength requirements. Collaborators on the project include NanoDynamics Inc., Ohio State University, and Innovative Gas Systems, Inc.