Methanol Fuel Cell Electrolyte

This work reviews the material requirements of polymer electrolytes and gives an exhaustive overview of the polymer electrolyte membranes pems investigated specifically for direct methanol fuel cells dmfcs.

Methanol fuel cell electrolyte.

A direct methanol fuel cell at 60 c gave a peak power density of 8 mw cm 2 at a current density of 35 ma cm 2. Elevation of operational temperatures of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells pemfcs has been demonstrated with phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole pa pbi membranes. Membrane morphology plays a great role in determining the performance of polymer electrolyte membranes pems especially for direct methanol fuel cell dmfc applications. Their main advantage is the ease of transport of methanol an energy dense yet reasonably stable liquid at all environmental conditions.

Mcfcs are high temperature fuel cells that use an electrolyte composed of a molten carbonate salt mixture suspended in a porous chemically inert ceramic matrix of beta alumina solid electrolyte base. The fuel cell performance is evaluated in terms of peak power density and maximum current density. Polymer electrolyte fuel cells pemfcs have been projected as promising power sources for many potential applications. The fuel cell performance is studied by varying the methanol concentration also.

It uses a polymer electrolyte similar to the one in the pemfc. Experimental studies are carried out to find out the best thickness of the le layer which gives better fuel cell performance for different methanol concentrations. This fuel cell was invented by college researchers in cooperation with the jet propulsion laboratory jpl in 1990. In a liquid fed direct methanol fuel cell excess methanol is supplied to the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly.

Membrane morphology can be divided into two types which are dense and porous structures. It is desirable to have all or most of the methanol to diffuse into the anode and react. Direct methanol fuel cells or dmfcs are a subcategory of proton exchange fuel cells in which methanol is used as the fuel.