Acid–gel-immobilized, nanoporous composite, protonic membranes as low cost system for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) technology has achieved commercial pre-feasibility, but its high cost and insufficient durability are the main obstacles to its full utilization. It has been determined that the problem of durability and high-cost has hindered the development of the carbon carrier used for Pt catalyst. Therefore, there is a great need to find low-cost and robust alternative support. In this paper, different carbonized materials were studied as supports for Pt-based electrocatalysts. Low-cost materials (lab-gown, toilet paper and filter paper) are carbonized with high temperature and modified by polyaniline to provide sufficient surface modification to improve Pt deposition on these supports. After comparison, it was found that carbonized lab-gown has better electrocatalytic performance than single-walled carbon nanotubes, carbonized toilet paper, and filter paper. The results provides an effective basis for replacing high cost and preparation of cumbersome carbon nanotubes with low cost and durable support materials.

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Organic-Inorganic Novel Green Cation Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14154686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4686

Author(s):

Marwa H. Gouda ◽

Tamer M. Tamer ◽

Abdelaziz H. Konsowa ◽

Hassan A. Farag ◽

Mohamed S. Mohy Eldin

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Cation Exchange ◽

Zirconium Phosphate ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Methanol Permeability ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

X Ray ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cells

Commercializing direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) demands cost-effective cation exchange membranes. Herein, a polymeric blend is prepared from low-cost and eco-friendly polymers (i.e., iota carrageenan (IC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)). Zirconium phosphate (ZrPO4) was prepared from the impregnation–calcination method and characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX map), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), then incorporated as a bonding and doping agent into the polymer blend with different concentrations. The new fabricated membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and XRD. The results revealed that the membranes’ physicochemical properties (oxidative stability, tensile strength) are enhanced with increasing doping addition, and they realized higher results than Nafion 117 because of increasing numbers of hydrogen bonds fabricated between the polymers and zirconium phosphate. Additionally, the methanol permeability was decreased in the membranes with increasing zirconium phosphate content. The optimum membrane with IC/SPVA/ZrPO4-7.5 provided higher selectivity than Nafion 117. Therefore, it can be an effective cation exchange membrane for DMFCs applications.

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A novel, effective and low cost electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells applications

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy ◽

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.02.039 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (14) ◽

pp. 4840-4849 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ali Döner ◽

Gülfeza Kardaş

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cells

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Compact Direct Methanol Fuel Cells for Portable Applications: A Modeling Study

International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering ◽

10.2202/1542-6580.1252 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Stefania Specchia ◽

Ugo A. Icardi ◽

Vito Specchia ◽

Guido Saracco

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Power Systems ◽

Modular Design ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽

Low Cost ◽

Heat Removal ◽

Market Area ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cells ◽

Conceptual Study

Consumers demand for portable audio/video/ICT devices has driven the development of advanced power technologies in recent years. Fuel cells are a clean technology with low emissions levels, able to work with renewable fuels and capable, in a next future, to replace conventional power systems meeting the targets of the Kyoto Protocol for a society based on sustainable energy systems. Within such a perspective, the objective of the European project MOREPOWER (Compact direct methanol fuel cells for portable applications) is to develop a low cost, low temperature, portable Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC; nominal power 250 W) of compact construction and modular design for the potential market area of weather stations, medical devices, signal units, gas sensors and security cameras. This investigation is focused on a conceptual study of the DMFC system carried out in the Matlab/Simulink platform. Two different DMFC configurations were devised in which alternative components arrangements along the methanol recycle line are considered. Based on a number of simulations, the system configuration characterized by a gas-liquid separator for carbon dioxide removal placed upstream the radiator for heat removal shows the most promising results, thanks to an easier design and operability of the radiator itself.

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