Center for Hydrogen Fuel Cells

USC will have two endowed chairs in this center. Chemical engineering professor John Van Zee's research deals with developing new sensors for fuel cells, medical devices, and automobiles. Van Zee is director of USC's Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for fuel cells, the only such center designated by the National Science Foundation. The center's grant will enable USC to expand collaborations with companies developing products for fuel cells.

Chemical engineering professor James Ritter's research fosters the education and outreach necessary to produce innovation in hydrogen storage and related infrastructure throughout South Carolina.

In 2004, the S.C. Research Centers of Economic Excellence announced awards totaling $5 million to USC for hydrogen fuel cell research. In mid-2005, USC received an additional $3 million from the group. The center also will build on existing research within the chemical engineering department at USC. In September 2004, the DOE awarded more than $2 million to USC for hydrogen research; USC is partnering with researchers at S.C. State University and the Savannah River National Lab in this effort.