Botte, associate professor of Chemical and Bio-Molecular Engineering at the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, who developed a method for producing hydrogen from ammonia for a fraction of the current commercial cost, will direct the research. The goals are to integrate an ammonia-catalytic-electrolyzer (ACE) with a HydraStax® fuel cell from ARSC’s Hydra Fuel Cell Corp., upscale current electrode design to large commercial size and demonstrate the ACE technology to power a fuel cell car.

Benjamin Schafer, president of American Hydrogen and CTO of Hydra Fuel Cell, said, “Since we executed the License with Ohio University, we have been presented numerous opportunities to apply the ACE in a number of commercial applications which we’re pursuing. Dr. Botte’s team of researchers is creating the tools we need to capture these potential customers.”

Ohio University

Established in 1804, Ohio University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Ohio and the first in the Northwest Territory. Serving some 20,000 students, Ohio University has been cited for academic quality and value by U.S. News and World Report, America’s 100 Best College Buys, Princeton Review’s Best Colleges, and Peterson’s Guide to Competitive Colleges. The John Templeton Foundation also has recognized Ohio University as one of the top character-building institutions in the country. Ohio University ranks first in the state of Ohio for nationally competitive awards won by its students.