A platinum catalyst enhancing technology has been awarded for its work towards reducing production costs in fuel cells, mobile phones and other applications.

Boegeskov Energy of Davis, which is developing the catalyst-enhancing material, won the People's Choice award at the Big Bang Business Plan Competition at the University of California, Davis.

It could now be selected as a wildcard to compete against winners of other business plan competitions.

According to the team, the material will considerably cut the cost and improve the overall efficiency of fuel cells for vehicles and other applications and when applied to the membrane of a fuel cell, the Catalyst Enhancing Polymers will use less of the platinum catalyst needed.

In addition, the novel and highly porous materials will help to improve cell durability and could allow the use of ethanol as a fuel.

A prize of $2,000 was awarded to the audience's favourite after a second series of presentations.