Software l NUV10 l NUV200 l NUV Series accessories l Fuel Cell Components

The NUV series of screening units is based on the philosophy that the best way to screen a fuel cell component is in an actual fuel cell environment. Our patented technology uses an array membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The counter electrode is a large area, standard fuel cell electrode while the array side consists of a library of 25 spots. Each spot consists of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) disc that is catalyzed by the end user's method. The catalyzed GDLs are positioned on the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) by an array gasket and then hot pressed onto the PEM with the counter electrode on the opposite face. The array MEA is then housed in a patented array fuel cell through which fuel and oxidant are delivered. An advanced high power array potentiostat (NUV100 or NUV200 series) is used to obtain polarization curves in parallel.

Statistically better data are obtained with the NUV series array fuel cell than with many individual test stands, because the common counter electrode eliminates an important source of random error. If hydrogen is delivered to the counter electrode, that electrode can serve as a dynamic hydrogen reference electrode. Alternatively, the array can be run in the standard hydrogen/air or methanol/air modes. For low stoic ratio screening, NuVant has developed a row switching mechanism that ensures uniform stoic ratios down a column of spots as polarization curves are obtained row by row.

Using conventional equipment, the simultaneous acquisition of 25 polarization curves would require 25 test stations with 50 mass flow controllers and over a hundred temperature control units. In addition, substantial human resources would be required. The NUV series requires only one pair of mass flow controllers and a single operator to run the equivalent of 25 single cell test stations. NuVant Systems can also fabricate larger arrays upon request.

NuVant Systems provides training in the preparation of high performance MEAs as well as in the use of the NUV series instrumentation.

Renxuan Liu, Eugene S. Smotkin, "Array membrane electrode assemblies for high throughput screening of direct methanol fuel cells anode catalysts", Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 525 (2002) 49-55

Eugene S. Smotkin, "High throughput screening device for combinatorial chemistry" US Patent 6692856, Feb. 17, 2004

R. R. Diaz-Morelas, R. Liu, E. Fachini, G. Chen, C. U. Segre, A. Martinez, C. Cabrera and E. S. Smotkin, "XRD and XPS analysis of as-prepared and conditioned DMFC array membrane electrode assemblies" Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2004, In press

E. S. Smotkin & R. R. Diaz-Morales, "New Electrocatalysts by Combinatorial Methods" Ann. Rev. Mater. Res, 2003, 33: 557-79

HOME l ABOUT US l PRODUCTS l ALLIANCE l TEAM l DIRECTORS l INVESTOR l CONTACT US
Copyright © 2007 NuVant Systems Inc. - Design by: Navarro's Specialty