Improving the performance of direct methanol fuel cells by implementing multilayer membranes blended with cellulose nanocrystals. (15th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hosseinpour, Milad; Sahoo, Madhumita; Perez-Page, Maria; Baylis, Sebastian Ross; Patel, Faisal; Holmes, Stuart M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 57(2019)
• Page Start: 30409
• Page End: 30419
• Publication Date: 2019-11-15
• Subjects: Methanol crossover -- Multilayer membrane -- Cellulose nanocrystals -- Direct methanol fuel cells -- Proton conductivity; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.09.194
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Methanol crossover through the proton exchange membranes of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) significantly affects its performance and efficiency. Low methanol permeability and high proton conductivity of the membrane is desired for optimum performance. In this work, a multilayer (ML) membrane configuration prepared by a simple pressing technique is employed with and without the incorporation of sprayed cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to achieve enhanced membrane properties. Assembled multilayer electrolytes show 19% enhanced maximum power density, while the addition of 1.5 wt% CNC (wt % of total final membrane) further improves the performance, giving a 38% better performance compared to standard Nafion N115. Methanol flux density and electrochemical impedance measurements attribute these improvement to the ~20% enhancement in the proton conductivity for the multilayer membrane which is enhanced further by an 11% reduction in methanol crossover when the cellulose nanocrystals are added. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Economical and bio-degradable cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as barrier material. Multilayer (ML) membrane as the matrix for CNC with the thickness same as Nafion N115. 11% reduction in the methanol crossover for ML–CNC–2 compared to N115. ML–CNC–2 exhibits 38% improved DMFC performance compared to N115. Lower crossover of ML–CNC–2 leads to possible size reduction of the overall technology.