We participated in the regional competition of Jugend forscht (youth researches), the largest youth science and technology contest in Europe, boasting over 10,000 participants annually.

Focusing on Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, a key solution for portable energy as the world grapples with finite petroleum resources, our project explored methanol as an alternative liquid fuel. This was particularly relevant due to the unresolved challenges surrounding the storage, distribution, and portability of hydrogen. During our final two years of high school, we embarked on this project to overcome the limitations associated with pure hydrogen.

Our project involved constructing a portable oven that converts a mix of methanol and water into hydrogen and carbon dioxide using various catalysts. The process operates at a feasible temperature of around 300 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for dynamic environments, such as vehicles. This innovation offers the potential to utilize liquid fuel akin to gasoline, leveraging the existing fuel distribution infrastructure.

Our efforts were recognized with the special “Environmental Technology” award from the German Federal Environment Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt).

Download the project report (in German).