Hydrogen Fuel 'Drone' Coming?.. Development of Non-Humidified Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Researcher Cha Ji-eon (PhD candidate, first author) and Senior Researcher Lee So-young (first author) at KIST are measuring the performance using the dual exchange membrane fuel cell developed by the research team.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a hydrogen fuel cell system that does not require a humidification system. This cell, which significantly reduces size and weight, delivers a maximum output of 850mW/cm² and stability lasting over 700 hours, and is expected to be used as the main power source for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Development of Dual Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

A novel fuel cell called the dual exchange membrane fuel cell developed by Dr. Kim Hyung-jun's team at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Group. The photo on the left shows a fuel cell stack with dual exchange membrane assemblies layered sequentially to generate more electricity, and the photo on the right shows the actual dual exchange membrane for fuel cells designed by Dr. Kim Hyung-jun's team at KIST.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on the 19th that Dr. Hyeongjun Kim's research team from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Division succeeded in developing a novel hydrogen fuel cell called the dual exchange membrane fuel cell, which does not require a humidification device.

The fuel cell developed by the research team is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell arranged side by side with an anode electrode supplied with hydrogen and a cathode electrode supplied with oxygen, among solid alkaline membrane fuel cells. In this cell, moisture is naturally generated and can be reused. Using a transparent cell for experiments, the team confirmed that water is produced at both the anode and cathode.

In particular, this cell demonstrated a maximum output of 850mW/cm² and stability lasting over 700 hours even when hydrogen or oxygen is supplied without humidification. This performance is at the world’s highest level. Additionally, when a dual exchange membrane fuel cell stack was manufactured and tested, no performance degradation was observed even after approximately 50 cycles of on/off repeated operation.

Potential Use as Main Power Source for Drones

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Dr. Hyeongjun Kim of KIST stated, "If the fuel cell system, currently mainly used in hydrogen electric vehicles, is made lighter and simpler, it can also be used as the main power source for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles that require long endurance."

The research results were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Membrane Science, an international journal in the field of fuel cells.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.