Multimedia Gallery
Fuel cells convert energy stored in fuels directly to electrical energy with high efficiency.
While conventional heat engine burns fossil fuels and generates electrical energy after multiple energy conversion processes, fuel cells convert energy stored in fuels dirctly to electrical energy with high efficiency without generating poluting byproducts. Among fuel cell components, polymer membrane plays a key role in the performance of fuel cells.
Chulsung Bae's research supported by NSF CAREER Award is focused on better understanding of the relationship of chemical structures of polymer membranes and their properties in fuel cell operations. Through systematic studies of structure-property relationship, the PI wants to develop more durable, low-cost, high-performance next-generation fuel cell membranes.
The project also has educational goal of trainning undergraduate and graduate students to be future leaders in clean energy by exposing them to multidiscipllinary nature of fuel cell research.
Credit: Chulsung Bae, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Images credited to the National Science Foundation, a federal agency, are in the public domain. The images were created by employees of the United States Government as part of their official duties or prepared by contractors as "works for hire" for NSF. You may freely use NSF-credited images and, at your discretion, credit NSF with a "Courtesy: National Science Foundation" notation.
Additional information about general usage can be found in Conditions.
Also Available:
Download the high-resolution TIF version of the image. (444.8 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Related story: Material technology that can increase performance of fuel cells