Litster Team Wins $3.2M U.S. DOE's ARPA-E OPEN 2021 Award for EV Fuel Cell Research

Carnegie Mellon’s research team was awarded $3.2 million for their project studying disruptive electrode technology for use in electric vehicle applications. The team, led by Scott Institute faculty affiliate Shawn Litster, was one of the 68 awardees of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) OPEN 21 program which is run by Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The funds are allocated to projects focused on emerging energy technologies, accelerating the progress towards decarbonization of the energy sector.

This project is developing novel ionomer-free electrodes which enable transformative improvements in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology. The team aims to disrupt a 30-year-old paradigm of the ionomer-based electrode by enabling ionomer-free electrodes with improved power density, efficiency, and durability. As a result, the potential to achieve ultra-high power density would revolutionize fuel cell technology, enabling the deployment of low-cost, high-efficiency fuel cells for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.

Energy Fellow Venkat Viswanathan was also awarded funding with a project out of Cornell University. Viswanathan will work on harnessing low-cost renewable electricity to produce cement materials using waste construction residues and limit the construction industry’s greenhouse gas footprint.