Scientists from the Arkema Research Centre are to take part of a US department of energy (DoE) grant worth £6.27 million.

The funding will go towards fuel cell research and involves testing of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) and will allow five more scientists to work on the project.

Ryan Dirkx, Arkema vice-president of research and development, told the Times Herald: "The grant brings together the polymer expertise of Arkema and the assembly, testing and analytical expertise of our partners with the ultimate goal of producing fuel cells that are the future of clean, efficient transportation."

Johnson Matthey Fuel Cell of West Chester, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawaii all form part of the project.

The DoE funding initiative will see 25 hydrogen and fuel cell development companies sharing $100 million (£53.3 million).

Ÿ Adfero Ltd