Nissan Redesigns the Fuel Cell
Nissan’s latest fuel stack has double the power density of its predecessor, but costs 35% less due to using half the platinum. The greater power density comes through improved conductivity of the membrane’s more durable platinum-coated electrode assembly as well as a more dense cell structure. This density increase is achieved by replacing the previous carbon separator with a thin metal design that is coated to both improve conductivity and prevent chemical corrosion.
Despite doubling the power density, stack size is down by one-third with no sacrifice in performance, and output increases from 90 kW to 130 kW. This, Nissan claims, makes the new stack powerful enough to be used in larger vehicles, while a reduction in stack volume from 90 liters to 68 liters makes it easier to package.
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