What is the catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell?

What is the catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell?

Currently, bimetallic platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) is the best catalyst for DMFC.

How do direct methanol fuel cells work?

By means of an electrochemical reaction, the direct methanol fuel cell converts the fuel, i.e. methanol, into electricity in combination with oxygen. The only waste products of the combustion process are waste heat, water vapor and a small amount of carbon dioxide.

What are limitations of direct methanol fuel cells?

The limitations for direct methanol fuel cells are (1) methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode across the membrane separator, (2) carbon monoxide poisoning, (3) high polarization of the anode for the oxidation of methanol, and (3) systems design.

What are the reactions involved in the direct methanol fuel cell?

Reaction. The DMFC relies upon the oxidation of methanol on a catalyst layer to form carbon dioxide. Water is consumed at the anode and produced at the cathode. Protons (H+) are transported across the proton exchange membrane – often made from Nafion – to the cathode where they react with oxygen to produce water.

Which electrolyte is used in DMFC?

The development of the DMFC was pioneered in the 1960s and 1970s by Shell and Exxon-Alsthom using liquid sulphuric acid and alkaline electrolytes, respectively.

Where is DMFC used?

DMFCs operate in the temperature range from 60ºC to 130ºC and tend to be used in applications with modest power requirements, such as mobile electronic devices or chargers and portable power packs.

Why is methanol fuel cell better than hydrogen fuel cell?

Compared to hydrogen-powered fuel cells, a methanol fuel cell system eliminates some of the difficult challenges linked to handling and distribution, infrastructure investments, and low volumetric energy density.

What electrolyte is used in methanol fuel cell?

These cells use platinum-based catalysts to promote the electrode reactions, and a solid acidic proton conducting polymer electrolyte, often Du Pont’s Nafion® perfluorinated sulphonic acid-type materials. However, the present PEMFC powered vehicles are almost exclusively based on the use of pure hydrogen as the fuel.

How does PEM electrolysers work?

In a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, the electrolyte is a solid specialty plastic material. Water reacts at the anode to form oxygen and positively charged hydrogen ions (protons). The electrons flow through an external circuit and the hydrogen ions selectively move across the PEM to the cathode.

Why is pure methanol not used in DMFC?

2.3 DMFC Electrochemical Reaction It can also be produced from a variety of sources and is available in pharmacies at a low price. However, methanol is toxic and the crossover of methanol through the polymer electrolyte membrane results in a poisoning of the cathode catalyst by the formation of a mixed potential.

What is the power output of direct methanol fuel cell?

The assembled µ-DMFC generates a high power density of 20.29 mW cm−2 and a power of 45.6 mW with high methanol concentration at room temperature.

What is the most effective fuel for a fuel cell?

Why Fuel Cells? Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity, with pure water and potentially useful heat as the only byproducts. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are not only pollution-free, but they can also have more than two times the efficien- cy of traditional combustion technologies.

What is the purpose of the catalyst of the fuel cell?

Catalyst Layers On the anode side, the platinum catalyst enables hydrogen molecules to be split into protons and electrons. On the cathode side, the platinum catalyst enables oxygen reduction by reacting with the protons generated by the anode, producing water.

Why H2SO4 is used as an electrolyte in methanol oxygen fuel cell?

No water oxidation when methanol oxidation in same aqueous solution. Additionally to sergio H2SO4 is a good choice, because SO42- is electrochemically inert compared to other acid counterions like Cl-.

How efficient is PEM electrolysis?

PEM electrolysis has an electrical efficiency of about 80% in working application, in terms of hydrogen produced per unit of electricity used to drive the reaction. The efficiency of PEM electrolysis is expected to reach 82-86% before 2030, while also maintaining durability as progress in this area continues at a pace.

What is the difference between alkaline and PEM electrolyser?

The structure of the PEM electrolyzer is similar to that of the alkaline electrolyzer. The main difference is the use of a thin film-electrode assembly (also known as a membrane electrode) to form a zero-pole spacing[4].

Can fuel cell run on methanol?

Methanol is an excellent hydrogen carrier fuel, packing more hydrogen in this simple alcohol molecule than can be found in hydrogen that’s been compressed (350-700 bar) or liquified (-253˚C). Methanol can be “reformed” on-site at a fueling station to generate hydrogen for fuel cell cars.

What is the standard cell potential for a methanol fuel cell?

1.21V
From this follows for a 6 electron charge transfer a standard cell voltage of 1.21V and an energy density of 6 kWh/kg methanol.