Performance Analysis of an Air‐Breathing Micro‐Direct Methanol Fuel Cell with an Extended Anode Region

Abstract

A design approach of extending the anode zone for miniaturization of the fuel cells was investigated in an air-breathing micro-direct methanol fuel cell (mDMFC) with an extended anode catalyst region on the walls of the fuel flow channel. This non-conventional design is demonstrated to be a feasible approach to enhance the volumetric power density of a micro-direct methanol fuel cell by increasing the total anode catalyst amount without affecting the cell dimensions. The fuel cell with extra anode catalyst on the fuel channel walls improves the maximum power density of a micro-fuel cell by at least 20% compared to the conventional design with only a catalyst coated membrane (CCM). The effects of key operating conditions on the overall cell and individual electrode performances are examined. The mass transport of methanol to the catalyst active sites is more efficient in the fuel cell with anode catalyst on both the membrane and channel walls than the conventional fuel cell design with anode catalyst only on the membrane.

Development of an innovative flexible paper-based methanol fuel cell (PB-DMFC) sensing platform – Application to sarcosine detection

“…The measured resistance values are quite high compared to a complex typical DMFC array consisting of all components [33]. However, higher values have been observed in simpler arrays with micro-DMFC systems because the simplicity of the system conditions the various mass transport phenomena [34,35]. This measured electrical resistance is related to the electrical resistances of the two anode/cathode electrodes, the proton transfer of the membrane, the current collector pathways and also the resistances between the individual components.…”

Modeling study of an air‐breathing micro direct methanol fuel cell with an extended anode catalyst region

“…The overall cell and individual electrode polarization curves of the μDMFCs were tested by using a Biologic VMP3 electrochemical workstation in galvanostatic mode (current control) at ambient temperature and pressure (20 ± 2°C, 1 atm). The details of the experimental studies are provided elsewhere 39 …”