Sumitomo Corp., Summit Medi-Chem Release Fuel Cell Catalyst Capable of Using Ethanol

Tokyo (JCN) - Sumitomo Corp. and its pharmaceutical and industrial chemical subsidiary Summit Medi-Chem have signed an exclusive sales agreement with Italian venture company ACTA SpA.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Japanese companies will exclusively market a fuel cell catalyst developed by ACTA in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

ACTA has developed a technology to disperse ultra-fine metal catalyst grain (0.3-0.7nm in diameter), which achieves about the same galvanizing effect as conventional direct methanol cell catalysts by reducing use of platinum and ruthenium to 0.2mg/cm2, the smallest amount ever achieved.

The Italian company has also developed the world's first ethanol-based fuel cell catalyst that has used inexpensive cobalt, nickel and iron catalysts.

Having the same components and being as freely transportable as alcohol, ethanol may be used for a fuel cell that will be used onboard. Direct ethanol cells will also be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since carbon dioxide, a byproduct of power generation using the direct ethanol cell, can be used as a bio ethanol material.

The two Sumitomo group companies will ask ACTA to approach Japanese universities and research institutions for joint research. Sumitomo is aiming for sales of 5 million yen ($45,000) in fiscal 2005 and 5 billion ($45 mil) in fiscal 2008.