Abstract
The performance of a direct methanol fuel cell based on a Nafion® solid polymer electrolyte membrane (SPE) is reported. The fuel cell utilizes a vaporized aqueous methanol fuel at a porous Pt–Ru–carbon catalyst anode. The effect of oxygen pressure, methanol/water vapour temperature and methanol concentration on the cell voltage and power output is described. A problem with the operation of the fuel cell with Nafion® proton conducting membranes is that of methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode through the polymer membrane. This causes a mixed potential at the cathode, can result in cathode flooding and represents a loss in fuel efficiency. To evaluate cell performance mathematical models are developed to predict the cell voltage, current density response of the fuel cell.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. M. Leger and C. Lamy, Berichte der Bunsen-Gesellschaft für Physikalische Chemie 94(9) (Sept. 1990) 1021–5.
D. S. Cameron, G. A. Hards, B. Harrison and R. J. Potter, Platinum Metal. Rev. 31(4) (Oct. 1987) 173–81.
G. L. Troughton and A. Hamnett, Bull Electrochem. 7 (1991) 488.
K. Scott, J. Cruickshank and P. C. Christensen, J. Power Sources (accepted).
R. Savinell, J. S. Wainwright and S. Wasmus ‘Nafion/H3PO4 as a Fuel Cell Electrolyte for Elevated Temperature Operation’, ISE Conference, Oporto (1994), p. v-70.
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Review Meeting, Department of Energy and Advanced Research Projects Agency, Baltimore, 26–27 Apr. (1994), Executive Summary.
M. P. Hogarth, PhD thesis, Newcastle University (1996).
G. L. Troughton, PhD thesis, University of Newcastle (1992).
X. Ren, M. S. Wilson and S. Gottesfeld, J. Electrochem. Soc. 143(1) (1996) L12.
K. Scott and P. Argyropoulos, in preparation for submission to J. Power Sources.
Technical Software Distributors, NL3BAND. C nonlinear tridiagonal band solver, (1991).
R. E. White, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam. 17 (1978) 367.
T. V. Nguyen and R. E. White, J. Electrochem. Soc. 140 (1993) 2178.
S. C. Yeo and A. Eisenberg, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 21 (1977) 875.
T. E. Springer, T. A. Zawodzinski and S. Gottesfeld, J. Electrochem. Soc. 138 (1991) 2334.
T. A. Zawodzinski and T. E. Springer, ‘Modeling of Batteries and Fuel Cells’ (edited by R. E. White, M. W. Verbrugge and J. F. Stockel), P. V. 91–10, The Electrochemical Society, NJ, (1991), p. 187.
P. S. Kauranen and E. Skou, J. Appl. Electrochem. 26(9) (1996) 909.
A. Parthasarathy, S. Srinivasan, A. J. Appleby and C. R. Martin, J. Electrochem. Soc. 139 (1992) 2530.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scott, K., Taama, W. & Cruickshank, J. Performance of a direct methanol fuel cell. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 28, 289–297 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003263632683
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003263632683