Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) will revolutionize the word economy because by photo-synthesis water can be used as the fuel of the future. Photo-catalytic splitting of water to Hydrogen (no CO is produced) and pure oxygen (not air) can be used to power PEMFCs. PEMFCs can power auto mobiles as well as stationary applications because of their high power density, moderate operating temperature, zero pollution production and compact design.

Polyme

r electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) will revolutionize the word economy because by photo-synthesis water can be used as the fuel of the future. Photo-catalytic splitting of water to Hydrogen (no CO is produced) and pure oxygen (not air) can be used to power PEMFCs. PEMFCs can power automobiles as well as stationary applications because of their high power density, moderate operating temperature, zero pollution production and compact design. The auto industry (Honda, Toyota, Nissan and G. Motors) complain that in the mass production phase of PEMFCs, the cost of the membrane assembly is determined mainly by the cost of Platinum . Therefore the reduction of the amount of Platinum in the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) is one of the highest priority issues to be solved. Obviously an important step for the reduction of the Platinum content is the complete understanding of the transport of fuel and electrochemical reaction in the CCL. Therefore, one must understand the key processes that occur during PEMFC operation.