scholarly journals Experimental Evaluation of the Effect of the Anode Diffusion Layer Properties on the Performance of a Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5198
Author(s):  
Beatriz A. Braz ◽  
Vânia B. Oliveira ◽  
Alexandra M. F. R. Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Direct Methanol

Passive direct methanol fuel cells (pDMFCs) are promising devices to replace the conventional batteries in portable electronic devices, due to their higher energy densities, autonomies, and instant recharging. However, some challenges, such as their costs, efficiency, and durability, need to be overcome before their commercialization. Towards that, this work presents the effect of the anode diffusion layer (ADL) properties on the performance of a pDMFC using a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with reduced loadings on both anode and cathode catalysts (3 mg/cm2 Pt/Ru on the anode and 1.3 mg/cm2 of Pt on the cathode). The pDMFC behavior was evaluated through polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, which allow identifying and quantifying the different losses that affect these systems. The results showed better performances when a diffusion layer with a dual-layer structure was used using higher methanol concentrations. The maximum power density achieved was 3.00 mW/cm2, using carbon cloth with a microporous layer, CC_MPL, as ADL, and a methanol concentration of 5 M. In this work, a tailored and low-cost MEA, using the materials available in the market, was proposed to achieve higher performances working under higher methanol concentrations. This work demonstrates that performing modifications on the fuel cell structure/design is an efficient way to achieve optimized performances.

Fuel Cells vs. Competing Technologies

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supramanian Srinivasan ◽  
Lakshmi Krishnan ◽  
Andrew B. Bocarsly ◽  
Kan-Lin Hsueh ◽  
Chiou-Chu Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Competing Technologies

Investments of over $1 B have been made for Fuel Cell R&D over the past five decades, for space and terrestrial applications; the latter includes military, residential power and heating, transportation and remote and portable power. The types of fuel cells investigated for these applications are PEMFCs (proton exchange membrane fuel cells), AFCs (alkaline fuel cells), DMFCs (direct methanol fuel cells), PAFCs (phosphoric acid fuel cells), MCFCs (molten carbon fuel cells), SOFCs (solid oxide fuel cells). Cell structure, operating principles, and characteristics of each type of fuel cell is briefly compared. The performances of fuel cells vs. competing technologies are analyzed. The key issues are which of these energy conversion systems are technologically advanced and economically favorable and can meet the lifetime, reliability and safety requirements. This paper reviews fuel cells vs. competing technologies in each application category from a scientific and engineering point of view.

Three-dimensional graphene as gas diffusion layer for micro direct methanol fuel cell

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1850145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingli Zhu ◽  
Xiaojian Zhang ◽  
Jianyu Li ◽  
Gary Qi
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Transfer Resistance ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

The gas diffusion layer (GDL), as an important structure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), provides a support layer for the catalyst and the fuel and the product channel. Traditionally, the material of GDL is generally carbon paper (CP). In this paper, a new material, namely three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is used as GDL for micro DMFC. The experimental results reveal that the performance of the DMFC has been improved significantly by application of 3DG. The peak powers increase from 25 mW to 31.2 mW and 32 mW by using 3DG as the anode and cathode GDL instead of CP, respectively. The reason may be the decrease of charge and mass transfer resistance of the cell. This means that the unique 3D porous architecture of the 3DG can provide lower contact resistance and sufficient fuel diffusion paths. The output performance of the cell will be further improved when porous metal current collectors is used.

Facile preparation of mesoporous graphenes by the sacrificial template approach for direct methanol fuel cell application

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (46) ◽  
pp. 19914-19919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Cao ◽  
Hui Zhuang ◽  
Mengwei Guo ◽  
Hongning Wang ◽  
Juan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell Application ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Facile Preparation ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Mesoporous graphenes were synthesized via a template-assisted pyrolysis approach and used as a material for a porous diffusion layer in direct methanol fuel cells.

Fabrication of Support Tubular Proton Exchange Membrane For Fuel Cell

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru-Jun Yu ◽  
Guang-Yi Cao ◽  
Xiu-Qing Liu ◽  
Zhong-Fang Li ◽  
Wei Xing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Porous Silica ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The support tubular proton exchange membranes (STPEMs) were fabricated successfully by impregnating porous silica pipe into a solution of perfluorinated resin. The structures of the inner, outer, and cross section of support PEM tube were characterized intensively by scanning electron microscopy observation. In addition, the conductivity and impermeability were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the bubble method, respectively. Results show that the conductivity of the PEM can reach as low as 1.46S∕m when using the silica pipe of 0.7mm wall thickness. Subsequently, the ST membrane electrode assembly for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications was prepared first by loading Pt∕C and Pt–Ru∕C catalyst ink onto the outer and inner surfaces of the PEM tube, respectively. The performances of the tubular DMFC and the PEMFC were tested on a self-made apparatus, which shows that the power density of tubular DMFC can reach 10mWcm−2 when 4molL−1 methanol solution flows through the anode at 80°C, and that the power density of tubular PEMFC can reach up to 60mWcm−2 when hydrogen flows at the rates of 20mlmin−1 through the anode at 60°C, both the cathodes adopting air-breathing mode.

Critique and Improvement of a One-Dimensional Semianalytical Model of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Kuo ◽  
W. E. Lear ◽  
J. H. Fletcher ◽  
O. D. Crisalle
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polarization Curve ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Implicit Equation ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

A constructive critique and a suite of proposed improvements for a recent one-dimensional semianalytical model of a direct methanol fuel cell are presented for the purpose of improving the predictive ability of the modeling approach. The model produces a polarization curve for a fuel cell system comprised of a single membrane-electrode assembly, based on a semianalytical one-dimensional solution of the steady-state methanol concentration profile across relevant layers of the membrane electrode assembly. The first improvement proposed is a more precise numerical solution method for an implicit equation that describes the overall current density, leading to better convergence properties. A second improvement is a new technique for identifying the maximum achievable current density, an important piece of information necessary to avoid divergence of the implicit-equation solver. Third, a modeling improvement is introduced through the adoption of a linear ion-conductivity model that enhances the ability to better match experimental polarization-curve data at high current densities. Fourth, a systematic method is advanced for extracting anodic and cathodic transfer-coefficient parameters from experimental data via a least-squares regression procedure, eliminating a potentially significant parameter estimation error. Finally, this study determines that the methanol concentration boundary condition imposed on the membrane side of the membrane-cathode interface plays a critical role in the model’s ability to predict the limiting current density. Furthermore, the study argues for the need to carry out additional experimental work to identify more meaningful boundary concentration values realized by the cell.

Micro-Fluidic Assisted Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys Garza ◽  
Peiwen Li ◽  
Douglas Loy
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Reaction ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Carbon Paper ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Operation Temperature ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cells ◽  
And Control

A novel design of micro-fluidic structure has been proposed to facilitate passive methanol supply and ventilation of carbon dioxide in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Experimental study was conducted for three in-house fabricated cells which have different membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEA) and cathode-side air-breathing current collectors. Low rate of passive methanol supply and control was accomplished through capillary-force-driven mass transfer in the in-plane of carbon paper wicks. The low methanol supply rate using this passive method only meets the need of fuel of the electrochemical reaction, and there is almost no surplus methanol that could cross over the membrane. The micro-fluidic structure on the anode plate also makes passive removal of the CO2 gas from the electrochemical reaction. The influence of the concentration of methanol and cell operation temperature was examined and compared in the study. The results reveal very promising performance in the passive DMFCs when a methanol concentration is above 8M.

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