Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs
The micro direct methanol fuel cell (MicroDMFC) is an emergent technology due to its special interest for portable applications. This work presents the results of a set of experiments conducted at room temperature using an active metallic MicroDMFC with an active area of 2.25 cm2. The MicroDMFC uses...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/11/1683 |
| _version_ | 1798040624481435648 |
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| author | D.S. Falcão R.A. Silva C.M. Rangel A.M.F.R. Pinto |
| author_facet | D.S. Falcão R.A. Silva C.M. Rangel A.M.F.R. Pinto |
| author_sort | D.S. Falcão |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The micro direct methanol fuel cell (MicroDMFC) is an emergent technology due to its special interest for portable applications. This work presents the results of a set of experiments conducted at room temperature using an active metallic MicroDMFC with an active area of 2.25 cm2. The MicroDMFC uses available commercial materials with low platinum content in order to reduce the overall fuel cell cost. The main goal of this work is to provide useful information to easily design an active MicroDMFC with a good performance recurring to cheaper commercial Membrane Electrode Assemblies MEAs. A performance/cost analysis for each MEA tested is provided. The maximum power output obtained was 18.1 mW/cm2 for a hot-pressed MEA with materials purchased from Quintech with very low catalyst loading (3 mg/cm2 Pt–Ru at anode side and 0.5 mg/cm2 PtB at the cathode side) costing around 15 euros. Similar power values are reported in literature for the same type of micro fuel cells working at higher operating temperatures and substantially higher cathode catalyst loadings. Experimental studies using metallic active micro direct methanol fuel cells operating at room temperature are very scarce. The results presented in this work are, therefore, very useful for the scientific community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:10:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b94d765a968d446595c628ee268556c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:10:16Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b94d765a968d446595c628ee268556c22022-12-22T04:00:35ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732017-10-011011168310.3390/en10111683en10111683Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAsD.S. Falcão0R.A. Silva1C.M. Rangel2A.M.F.R. Pinto3CEFT, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLNEG, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalLNEG, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, PortugalCEFT, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalThe micro direct methanol fuel cell (MicroDMFC) is an emergent technology due to its special interest for portable applications. This work presents the results of a set of experiments conducted at room temperature using an active metallic MicroDMFC with an active area of 2.25 cm2. The MicroDMFC uses available commercial materials with low platinum content in order to reduce the overall fuel cell cost. The main goal of this work is to provide useful information to easily design an active MicroDMFC with a good performance recurring to cheaper commercial Membrane Electrode Assemblies MEAs. A performance/cost analysis for each MEA tested is provided. The maximum power output obtained was 18.1 mW/cm2 for a hot-pressed MEA with materials purchased from Quintech with very low catalyst loading (3 mg/cm2 Pt–Ru at anode side and 0.5 mg/cm2 PtB at the cathode side) costing around 15 euros. Similar power values are reported in literature for the same type of micro fuel cells working at higher operating temperatures and substantially higher cathode catalyst loadings. Experimental studies using metallic active micro direct methanol fuel cells operating at room temperature are very scarce. The results presented in this work are, therefore, very useful for the scientific community.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/11/1683MicroDMFCexperimental studiescommercial MEAslow catalyst loading |
| spellingShingle | D.S. Falcão R.A. Silva C.M. Rangel A.M.F.R. Pinto Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs Energies MicroDMFC experimental studies commercial MEAs low catalyst loading |
| title | Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs |
| title_full | Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs |
| title_fullStr | Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs |
| title_short | Performance of an Active Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Using Reduced Catalyst Loading MEAs |
| title_sort | performance of an active micro direct methanol fuel cell using reduced catalyst loading meas |
| topic | MicroDMFC experimental studies commercial MEAs low catalyst loading |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/11/1683 |
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