Hydrogen is clean. It’s renewable. But it’s also expensive. That’s the bottleneck keeping fuel cells out of the mainstream. No one is buying a vehicle powered by a technology that costs more to build than the engine it replaces.
The technology in question is the polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). It’s the specific type researchers believe will eventually power the zero-emission vehicles of tomorrow. The problem isn’t the science. It’s the bill of materials.
Building a PEMFC requires proton exchange membranes, gas diffusion layers, bipolar plates, and catalysts. The catalysts are the expensive part. Specifically, the precious metal catalysts. These components make up about 70 percent of the total cost.
The numbers don’t lie. A high-volume PEMFC system averages $73 per kilowatt. Compare that to a standard gasoline engine. That runs at $35 per kilowatt. Less than half the price. The fuel cell simply cannot compete on price.
Can Nanoparticle Gold Replace Platinum?
Researchers are trying to slash those material costs. They need a cheaper precious metal catalyst. Right now, almost all PEMFCs use platinum. Platinum is one of the most expensive materials on the planet.
So, what if you used gold instead?
It sounds ironic. Gold is usually inert. It doesn’t react. But size matters. When you reduce gold to particles with a nanometer size, it changes. Researchers have found that nano-gold can be as effective a catalyst as platinum.
If manufacturers can largely replace platinum with gold, the cost drops. There is a catch. Gold prices are rising. So, while it might be cheaper than platinum, it may not be cheap enough to compete with the gas engine.
The gap between $73 and $35 is wide. Gold helps. But does it help enough? Maybe not.
