Can available membranes and catalysts meet automotive PEFC requirements?

For reduced fuel cell system complexity and improved heat rejection from a fuel cell vehicle, polymer electrolyte membranes that operate at low relative humidity (< 60% vs. > 75% current) and at 100°-120°C vs. < 85°C current) are needed. However, increasing the temperature would accelerate catalyst support degradation and limit the choice of catalyst support materials. These interconnected material development challenges relative to automotive application would be identified and prioritized. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA 8/22-26/2004).