Papers by Author: Roland Schöll

Abstract: The history of terrestrial transport systems on road and rail has always been influenced by material-related developments. These developments gave rise to various construction methods, taking into account the different requirements that transport systems had to fulfil and providing new approaches. The urgency of the CO2 problem will result in alternative power trains also establishing themselves on the market, in turn giving rise to new requirements and possibilities in the field of vehicle construction, over and above the established light weight design. Further development of materials is supported and supplemented by new material systems able to actively respond to the particular state of the system.

Abstract: Fuel cell vehicles should be further improved. Key issues are cost reduction; higher power density of the primary energy converter, the fuel cell; wider operation ranges and improvement of operation parameters, e.g. higher operation temperature and starting ability in freezing conditions. Using advanced materials and construction principles is a key factor by meeting these requirements. The paper gives a short introduction to the technology of fuel cell vehicles and the most prominent fuel cell type for traction applications, the polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell (PEFC). Progress in material development of a core component of the PEFC, the bipolar plate is described. In the second part of the paper some ideas are presented, in which way material research could help to enable suitable on-board storages for hydrogen. Namely, a new approach to design compressed gas storages and new developments in materials for solid state hydrogen storage are brought to attention.