Two researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have joined forces in a bid to develop a greater understanding of proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

In a research combination which one of the pair, Ken Chen, has described as unique, one of the researchers, Mr Chen, works on computational models which describe the actions and reactions occurring inside the fuel cell.

Meanwhile, his partner in the programme, Mike Hickner, concentrates on performing physical experiments with fuel cells, both using the models to try out new methods and then providing data to be added in to the models, to create a better understanding of the processes involved in a PEM fuel cell.

And according to the two researchers, the work is yielding some important results, by allowing both to concentrate on their strengths and work together to come to conclusions.

"We want to have all the small pieces worked out in the modeling process so we can concentrate on the larger issues with experiments," comments Mr Hickner on their progress so far.

"Our validation method is new and exciting and leading us to learn some things not well known previously," he added.


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