UPI recently reported on Case Western Reserve University's breakthrough in the development of low-cost hydrogen fuel cells, which will power the electric cars of the future.

Researchers at the university say catalysts made of polymer-dipped carbon nanotubes can outperform traditional platinum catalysts in fuel cells at a fraction of the cost. The cost of catalysts is one of the biggest obstacles to widespread cell use, say scientists.

"Platinum, which represents at least a quarter of the cost of fuel cells, currently sells for about $30,000 per pound," states the article, "while the activated carbon nanotubes cost about $45 per pound."

"This is a breakthrough," professor Liming Dai says in the article.

In testing, the carbon catalyst fuel cell produced as much power as an identical cell using a platinum catalyst.

Read the full report here.