Direct methanol fuel cells: progress in cell performance and cathode research

Performance comparison of low-temperature direct alcohol fuel cells with different anode catalysts

“…Operation on liquid fuels without the external bulky fuel-reforming system could greatly simplify the fuel cell system, therefore would result in its rapid commercialization. At present direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are being actively investigated and during the past 10 years great progress has been made in this field [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Yet, it is still desirable to increase the number of liquid fuels that can be employed in these systems in order to extend the practical application of low-temperature fuel cells and to facilitate their penetration into energy market.…”

“…Making alloys with a second or a third metal is a convenient way to modify electrocatalytic properties of Pt in order to overcome poisoning effects. Several metals have been found to enhance the activity for methanol oxidation definitely, among them Ru [1,5] is the favorite metal which can greatly increase the methanol electro-oxidation rate. Sn is another addictive investigated extensively, but controversial results on its effect on methanol electro-oxidation and CO tolerance have been reported in recent literature [17].…”

Direct ethanol fuel cells based on PtSn anodes: the effect of Sn content on the fuel cell performance

“…Low molecular weight alcohols, methanol and ethanol, are reasonably inexpensive and largely available, having higher electrochemical reactivity at relatively low temperatures. The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology has already been demonstrated by Ballard [1], the Los Alamos National Laboratory [2] and others [3][4][5][6] to possess many beneficial characteristics appropriate to the commercial application, and great progresses have been made in this field recently [7][8]. The oxidation of methanol over Pt alloyed with other metals has been accepted as a method to overcome the insufficient activity of pure Pt for these purposes.…”

Prospects for Alkaline Anion‐Exchange Membranes in Low Temperature Fuel Cells

“…Despite this, power performances of 200 mW cm -2 can be obtained at cell potentials of 0.5 V with a DMFC when operated at 120°C, a methanol concentration of 0.5 mol dm -3 , catalysts loadings of > 2 mg cm -2 , and back pressures of 2 atm at the cathode [22]. Peak power performances have attained around 300 mW cm -2 [23].…”

“…Whereas hydrogen can be fed to the cathode with PEM-based DMFCs, to act as a dynamic hydrogen reference electrode (when testing a fuel cell [111] and conducting impedance spectroscopy measurements [112,113]) to assist evaluation of anode performances, this cannot be done using an AAEM; that is because oxygen must be present at the cathode to generate the OH -ions. Therefore, a separate reference electrode must be present, adding to the complexity of the test system; this has, however, been carried out with an AAEM in a recent study [55].…”