These tables list the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technical targets for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell components: membrane electrode assemblies, membranes, electrocatalysts, and bipolar plates. These targets have been developed with input from the U.S. DRIVE Partnership, which includes automotive and energy companies, and specifically the Fuel Cell Technical Team. The guideline component targets are developed to assist component developers in evaluating progress without testing full systems.

More information about targets can be found in the Fuel Cells section of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office's Multi-Year Research, Development, and Demonstration Plan.

Technical Targets: Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Transportation Applications

^a Costs projected to high volume production (500,000 80-kW_net systems per year).
^b Cost when producing sufficient MEAs for 500,000 systems per year. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record 15015, "Fuel Cell System Cost—2015." Cost includes all MEA components, including frames and gaskets.
^c Time until 10% decrease in voltage at 1.0–1.5 A/cm² for a Gore MEA using a 510 catalyst (anode/cathode loading of 0.2/0.4 mg_PGM/cm²) operated on durability test protocol in Table P.7. Rod Borup and Rangachary Mukundan (LANL), private communication and 2013 Annual Merit Review presentation. Higher durability values have been reported elsewhere (e.g., 3,900 hours in on-the-road testing, Table 3.4.3), but these higher values were not measured using the drive cycle specified in Table P.7.
^d Need to meet or exceed at temperatures of 80°C up to peak temperature. Based on polarization curve and durability testing protocols in Table P.6 and Table P.7, with <10% drop in rated power after test.
^e Measured according to protocol in Table P.8, with less than 5% decrease in voltage at 1.2 A/cm².
^f Measured using polarization curve protocol in Table P.6.
^g Kongkanand et al. (General Motors), "High-Activity Dealloyed Catalysts," 2014 Annual Progress Report.
^h Measured using polarization curve protocol in Table P.6, but any temperature up to maximum operating temperature may be used, with maximum inlet RH of 40%. Rated power operating point depends on MEA temperature and is defined as the voltage at which V = 77.6 / (22.1 + T[°C]), based on target of Q/ΔTi = 1.45 kW/°C and definition of Q/ΔTi from Table 3.4.4, with an approximation of MEA temperature as equal to stack coolant outlet temperature.
ⁱ Areal power density of 810 mW/cm² at 150 kPa_abs and 1,060 mW/cm² At 250 kPa_abs. A. Steinbach et al. (3M), "High-Performance, Durable, Low-Cost Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Transportation Applications," 2014 Annual Merit Review.
^j Ratio of voltage at 30°C to voltage at 80°C during operation at 1.0 A/cm², measured using the protocol for a polarization curve found in Table P.6. A 25°C dew point is used only for 30°C operation.
^k Based on testing performed at LANL using a Gore MEA with high cathode loading (0.1/0.4 mg_PGM/cm² anode/cathode) and SGL GDLs (25BC/25BC). Rod Borup, presentation to the Fuel Cell Tech Team, July 15, 2015.
^l Ratio of voltage at 90°C to voltage at 80°C during operation at 1.0 A/cm², measured using the protocol for a polarization curve found in Table P.6. A 59°C dew point is used for both 90°C and 80°C operations.
^m Ratio of voltage at 30°C transient operation to voltage at 80°C steady-state operation at 1.0 A/cm², measured using the protocol for a polarization curve found in Table P.6. A 25°C dew point is used only for 30°C operation. 30°C transient operation is at 1 A/cm² for at least 15 minutes then lowered to 0.1 A/cm² for 3 minutes without changing operating conditions. After 3 minutes, the current density is returned to 1 A/cm². The voltage is measured 5 seconds after returning to 1 A/cm².

Technical Targets: Membranes for Transportation Applications

^a Tested in MEA on O₂ or H₂, 80°C, fully humidified gases, 1 atm total pressure. For H₂ test methods, see M. Inaba et. al. Electrochimica Acta, 51, 5746, 2006. For O₂ test methods, see Zhang et. al. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 160, F616-F622, 2013.
^b 14 μm PFIA membrane with nanofiber support. M. Yandrasits (3M), private communication, February 1, 2016.
^c Reinforced and chemically stabilized PFIA membrane. M. Yandrasits et al. (3M), U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program 2015 Annual Progress Report.
^d Costs projected to high-volume production (500,000 80 kW systems per year).
^e Cost when producing sufficient membrane for 500,000 systems per year. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record 15015, "Fuel Cell System Cost—2015."
^f Measured according to protocols in Table P.3, Table P.4, and Table P.5.
^g For air or N₂ testing, an equivalent crossover metric of 0.1 sccm/cm² at a 50 kPa pressure differential, 80ºC, and 100%RH may be used as an alternative.

Technical Targets: Electrocatalysts for Transportation Applications

^a PGM content and loading targets may have to be lower to achieve system cost targets.
^b Rated power operating point depends on MEA temperature and is defined as the voltage at which V = 77.6 / (22.1 + T[°C]), based on target of Q/ΔTi = 1.45 kW/°C and definition of Q/ΔTi from Table 3.4.4, with an approximation of MEA temperature as equal to stack coolant outlet temperature.
^c Steinbach et al. (3M), "High-Performance, Durable, Low-Cost Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Transportation Applications," 2014 Annual Merit Review.
^d Based on MEA gross power at 150 kPa abs. Measured at 0.692 V and 90°C, satisfying Q/ΔT < 1.45 kW/°C. At 250 kPa abs status is 0.12 g/kW.
^e Measured using protocol in Table P.1.
^f Kongkanand et al. (General Motors), "High-Activity Dealloyed Catalysts," 2014 Annual Merit Review.
^g Measured using protocol in Table P.2.
^h B. Popov et al., "Development of Ultra-low Doped-Pt Cathode Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells," 2015 Annual Merit Review.
ⁱ P. Zelenay (LANL), "Non-Precious Metal Fuel Cell Cathodes: Catalyst Development and Electrode Structure Design,” 2016 Annual Merit Review.
^j Target is equivalent to PGM catalyst mass activity target of 0.44 A/mg_PGM at 0.1 mg_PGM/cm².

Technical Targets: Bipolar Plates for Transportation Applications

^a Costs projected to high volume production (500,000 80 kW systems per year), assuming MEA meets performance target of 1,000 mW/cm².
^b Cost when producing sufficient plates for 500,000 systems per year. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Record 15015, "Fuel Cell System Cost—2015."
^c C.H. Wang (Treadstone), "Low-cost PEM Fuel Cell Metal Bipolar Plates," 2012 Annual Progress Report.
^d Per the standard gas transport test (ASTM D1434).
^e C.H. Wang (Treadstone), private communication, October 2014.
^f Blunk, et al., J. Power Sources 159 (2006) 533–542.
^g pH 3 0.1ppm HF, 80°C, peak active current <1x10^-6 A/cm² (potentiodynamic test at 0.1 mV/s, -0.4V to +0.6V (Ag/AgCl)), de-aerated with Ar purge.
^h Kumar, M. Ricketts, and S. Hirano, "Ex-situ evaluation of nanometer range gold coating on stainless steel substrate for automotive polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell bipolar plate," Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010): 1401–1407, September 2009.
ⁱ pH 3 0.1ppm HF, 80°C, passive current <5x10^-8 A/cm² (potentiostatic test at +0.6V (Ag/AgCl) for >24h, aerated solution.
^j O. Adrianowycz (GrafTech), "Next Generation Bipolar Plates for Automotive PEM Fuel Cells," 2009 Annual Progress Report.
^k Includes interfacial contact resistance (on as received and after potentiostatic test) measured both sides per Wang, et al. J. Power Sources 115 (2003) 243–251 at 200 psi (138 N/cm²).
^l ASTM-D 790-10 Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials.
^m D. Haack et al. (Porvair), "Carbon-Carbon Bipolar Plates," 2007 Annual Progress Report.
ⁿ Per ASTM E8M-01 Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials, or demonstrate ability to stamp generic channel design with width, depth, and radius.
^o M. Brady et al. (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), "Nitrided Metallic Bipolar Plates," 2010 Annual Progress Report.