U.S. Army Awards Grant to QuantumSphere for Methanol Fuel Cell Research

QuantumSphere, a Santa Ana, Calif., company that develops technologies for portable power and clean-energy applications, has received a U.S. Army grant to come up with a methanol fuel cell that will help soldiers operate electronic devices on trucks without the noise and heat signatures produced by diesel generators.
 
In the first, nine-month phase of the project, QuantumSphere will receive $120,000 to study the synthesis and electrochemistry of bifunctional anodes, high temperature electrolyte membranes and low-cost cathode catalysts for a 5-watt methanol fuel cell.

If successful, the company will move to the second phase of the project, a two-year $750,000 effort to develop a 200-watt methanol reforming fuel cell in a smaller, lighter form to power portable electronic devices in the Army's Future Force Warrior program.

Future Force Warrior is the Army's flagship science and technology program, aimed at integrating best-in-class technologies to enhance the combat effectiveness of the soldier and small combat unit. The photo at right is one the Army has released depicting the modern high-tech U.S. soldier.

If QuantumSphere is successful, our hope is that one day we'll see methanol fuel cell technology in vehicles offered to the general public. It wouldn't represent the first time technology designed for military use made its way into and benefited the private sector.

Posted by

Scott Doggett October 14, 2008, 6:51 AM

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Diesel, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Methanol