Scientists from the Imperial College London and the University
College London have found a way to reduce the cost of hydrogen
fuel cells. Price has long been a detractor from hydrogen’s
appeal as a form of energy. Fuel cells, the machines that turn
hydrogen gas into usable electricity, are notoriously expensive.
They require costly components in order to operate, none of
which are as high-priced as platinum. London scientists believe
that there is no need for fuel cells to be so expensive, thanks
to printed circuit boards. Researchers believe that by replacing
the heavy steel plates that are found in fuel cells with printed
circuit boards, fuel cells could be made 30% less expensive. The
steel plates used for fuel cells act as conductors for electric
currents. These plates are fundamental parts of fuel cell
stacks, which are often used in residential energy projects. By
replacing these plates with circuit boards, researchers have
been able to reduce the size of fuel cell stacks, increase their
performance and