Microstructured Membrane Electrode Assembly for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

2007 ◽  
Vol 154 (10) ◽  
pp. B1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee-Tak Kim ◽  
Tatyana V. Reshentenko ◽  
Ho-Jin Kweon
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

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.

A Novel Structure of Membrane Electrode Assembly for DMFC

2009 ◽  
Vol 60-61 ◽  
pp. 339-342
Author(s):  
Chun Guang Suo ◽  
Xiao Wei Liu ◽  
Xi Lian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Anode Side ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the key component of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), the structure and its preparation methods may bring great effects on the cell performances. Due to the requirement of the high performance of the MEA for the micro direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), we provide a novel double-catalyst layer MEA using CCM-GDE (Catalyst Coated Membrane，CCM；Gas Diffusion Electrode，GDE) fabrication method. The double-catalyst layer is formed with an inner catalyst layer (in anode side: PtRu black as catalyst, in cathode side: Pt black as catalyst) and an outer catalyst layer (in anode side: PtRu/C as catalyst, in cathode side: Pt/C as catalyst). The fabrication procedures are important to the new structured MEA, thus three kinds of fabrication methods are studied, including CCM-GDE, GDE-Membrane and CCM-GDL methods. It was found that the CCM-GDE technology may enhance the contact properties between the catalyst and PEM, and increase the electrode reaction areas, resulted in increasing the performance of the DMFC.

A Novel Design of a Cylindrical Portable Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-San Lee ◽  
Long-Jeng Chen ◽  
Min-Fa Hung ◽  
Ming-Yuan Lo ◽  
Shan-Jay Sue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Direct Methanol ◽  
One Step ◽  
Compact Design ◽  
Novel Design ◽  
Methanol Fuel Cell

Novel designs of a cylindrical and a flat portable direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) have been proposed in this research. Experimental cells have also been fabricated. Their maximum power output reached 12mW∕cm2 when operating at room temperature and with naturally breathed air. The weight and the volume of the experimental cylindrical cell are 27g and 30cm3, respectively, with 7.5cm3 of methanol inside. Its specific power and volumetric power density are 6.67mW∕g and 6.25mW∕cm3, respectively. The membrane electrode assembly was fabricated by hot pressing the electrodes purchased from E-Tek Co. The catalyst contents are 4.0mg∕cm2 of Pt∕Ru (80wt.% carbon supported) and 4.0mg∕cm2 of Pt (black) for anode and cathode, respectively. The new and compact design will make the portable DMFC lighter and cheaper, and bring it one step closer to be marketable.

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