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Ultrasensitive Contaminant Detection for PEM Fuel Cell Hydrogen Feed Strain

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8501-08-M-0059
Agency Tracking Number: F073-123-0701
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF073-123
Solicitation Number: 2007.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-02-21
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-11-21
Small Business Information
7610 Eastmark Drive
College Station, TX 77840
United States
DUNS: 184758308
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Richard McAloney
 Research Scientist
 (979) 693-0017
 richard.mcaloney@lynntech.com
Business Contact
 G. Hitchens
Title: Vice President
Phone: (979) 693-0017
Email: duncan.hitchens@lynntech.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Hydrogen fuel cells are poised to replace the internal combustion engine in the future. One example is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell that operates at low temperature and high power densities making them ideal candidates for automobile and other small domestic power applications. The main drawback of the technology is that PEM cells require highly pure hydrogen are easily poisoned by sulfur containing species and other impurities. A typical source of hydrogen for the Military is fuel reformers using fuels such a JP8. These feed stocks may contain compounds in trace amounts that would foul catalysts. Lynntech will develop an ultrasensitive sensor for liquid or vapor assuring the purity of the H2 feed streams or reformer intake. The technology relies on whispering gallery modes (WGM); optical resonances in micron-sized spheres that, due to the high quality factor, are extremely sensitive to the environment around the resonator. This property is detrimental to most sensing applications but can be used advantageously to detect minute changes in the hydrogen feed stream or reformate stock. To impart chemical sensitivity, microresonators will be coated with nanoparticles of the catalyst material or other metals to provide an exact representation and test for fouling compounds.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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