Design and fabrication of a quick-fit architecture air breathing direct methanol fuel cell. (3rd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abraham, Bincy George; Chetty, Raghuram
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 6845
• Page End: 6856
• Publication Date: 2021-02-03
• Subjects: Passive -- Direct methanol fuel cell -- Electrodeposition -- Stack -- Air breathing -- Titanium; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.11.184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: An air breathing direct methanol fuel cell (AB-DMFC) with a unique architecture was designed and fabricated to hold cell components together firmly, avoid fuel leakage and limit cell resistance. Pt and PtRu catalysts prepared by pulse electrodeposition on Ti mesh-based electrodes were employed and compared to traditional carbon-based electrodes. Results showed that Ti mesh can be a suitable catalyst support without the need for a gas diffusion layer (GDL) at the anode, while the absence of a GDL at the cathode drastically reduces cell performance, which can be attributed to the diffusion limitation of oxygen to the cathode. Among the various Ti mesh-based cell configurations explored, the optimum configuration was found with PtRu on an 80 mesh (47% open ratio) Ti anode and a Pt/C coated GDL with 40 mesh (71% open ratio) Ti as a cathode. The single cell AB-DMFC architecture was extended to 2-cell and 6-cell mini-stacks. The 6-cell stack, offering an OCV of 2.9 V and a maximum power of 60 mW using 2 M methanol and ambient air, was used to run a small portable device. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Air-breathing DMFC (AB-DMFC) with a novel clamping mechanism was designed. The design offers ease in the deployment of MEAs for testing and characterization. The performance of the novel AB-DMFC was comparable to conventional cell design. Pulse electrodeposited Pt and PtRu catalysts on Ti mesh were used as electrodes. A working prototype of 6-cell stack AB-DMFC was fabricated for demonstration.