Power & Energy Expands R&D Staff For Fuel Cell Hydrogen Separation Membranes - News Item

Power & Energy, Inc. (P&E), based in Bucks County Pennsylvania, has recently hired two additional scientists to supplement its research and development team. Both new scientists will focus on P&E's production of their next-generation hydrogen separation membranes to be used in Fuel Cell applications.

Dr. Jacques Mettes has been appointed Senior Scientist and comes to P&E with 20 years of experience in R&D management and New Product Development at firms including Air Liquide, Meeco and Anatel Corporation. Much of that experience has been related to the measurement of trace impurities in gases and water. Dr. Mettes has a PhD in Atomic and Molecular Physics and an MS degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Dr. Ronald Petkie has been appointed Senior Materials Scientist. Ron has a vast range of experience in the area of deposition and analysis of thin film metal and ceramic nano-structures. He has previously worked for IBM, General Electric and most recently Diamonex, now a unit of Morgan Advanced Ceramics. Ron has a PhD in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY as well as BS and MS degrees from Pennsylvania State University.

Both Dr. Mettes and Dr. Petkie will be focused on the key process issues related to the production of low cost, high efficiency hydrogen separation systems for both portable and stationary fuel cell applications.

P&E, which develops and manufactures hydrogen separators, has developed new hybrid hydrogen separation technology specifically designed for fuel cell applications. This new membrane, based on advanced nano-structures, will be an enabling technology for the early adoption of fuel cells using hydrogen generated on demand from liquid fuel sources.

The United States Department of Defense (DOD) is providing on-going funding for research & development. At the request of the DOD, P&E has submitted a proposal for additional funding to develop a hydrogen separation membrane that would be suitable for portable fuel cells. These fuel cells could be used to replace costly and inefficient battery power for ground personnel and many other military needs.

Posted 17^th December 2003