Thin polyfuel membrane

has developed a new, thinner fuel cell membrane that, it claims, delivers the highest power levels ever demonstrated for passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).

The new hydrocarbon DMFC membrane, with a thickness of 45 microns, delivers 33% more power than the previous industry benchmark, PolyFuel’s 62-micron PolyFuel membrane, which is being use or studied worldwide by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), particularly in Japan.

The reduced thickness increases performance by reducing the resistivity of the membrane, while allowing a higher level of water back diffusion.

“PolyFuel has been working hard with OEMs to refine its membrane technology to meet their specific needs,” said Jim Balcom, president and CEO of PolyFuel.

“Perhaps the most requested feature has been a thinner membrane that retained the methanol crossover, water crossover and durability advantages of our 62-micron membrane, while meeting aggressive, new fuel cell performance targets. We are pleased that we have been able to specifically engineer a membrane to meet these requests.”