Advances in direct oxidation methanol fuel cells

Surampudi, S.; Narayanan, S. R.; Vamos, E.; Frank, H.; Halpert, G.; LaConti, A.B.; Kosek, J.; Prakash, G. K. Surya; Oláh, George A.

doi:10.1016/0378-7753(94)87016-0

Cited by 308 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Besides its utilization in ICEs, methanol is an excellent fuel for efficient direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), which we jointly developed with Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the early 1990s. [27][28][29] Direct DME based fuel cells are also being studied. 30,31 Methanol and DME, besides their use as transportation fuels, are proven and increasingly utilized starting materials for producing ethylene and propylene in the so-called methanol to olefin (MTO) process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol and Dimethyl Ether: From Greenhouse Gas to Renewable, Environmentally Carbon Neutral Fuels and Synthetic Hydrocarbons

2008

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Published on Web 12/08/2008 Further, one of the major challenges of our time is to find efficient new solutions beyond our diminishing fossil fuels resources (oil, natural gas, coal) and the grave environmental consequences of excessive combustion of carbon-containing fuels and their products. The concept of the "Methanol Economy" that we have developed hinges on the chemical recycling of CO 2 to useful fuels. (i.e., methanol and DME) and other products. 1,2 At the same time, it renders carbon-containing fuels renewable (on the human time scale) and environmentally neutral. This not only allows us to mitigate a major human made cause of global warming but also provides us with an inexhaustible and generally available carbon source for ages to come.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol and Dimethyl Ether: From Greenhouse Gas to Renewable, Environmentally Carbon Neutral Fuels and Synthetic Hydrocarbons

2008

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“…The well-known PtRu catalyst is effective as an anode material. [5][6][7][8][9][10] However, both Pt and Ru are expensive, leaving room for development of active but cheaper electrocatalysts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bifunctional anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

Rossmeisl

Ferrin

Tritsaris

et al. 2012

Energy Environ. Sci.

166

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Using the binding energy of OH* and CO* on close-packed surfaces as reactivity descriptors, we screen bulk and surface alloy catalysts for methanol electro-oxidation activity. Using these two descriptors, we illustrate that a good methanol electro-oxidation catalyst must have three key properties: (1) the ability to activate methanol, (2) the ability to activate water, and (3) the ability to react off surface intermediates (such as CO* and OH*). Based on this analysis, an alloy catalyst made up of Cu and Pt should have a synergistic effect facilitating the activity towards methanol electro-oxidation. Using these two reactivity descriptors, a surface PtCu 3 alloy is proposed to have the best catalytic properties of the Pt-Cu model catalysts tested, similar to those of a Pt-Ru bulk alloy. To validate the model, experiments on a Pt(111) surface modified with different amounts of Cu adatoms are performed. Adding Cu to a Pt(111) surface increases the methanol oxidation current by more than a factor of three, supporting our theoretical predictions for improved electrocatalysts.

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“…[4][5][6] It has been reported that even over 40% of methanol could be lost in a DMFC due to crossover across the membrane.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…3 However, the methanol crossover from anode to cathode across the Nafion membrane brings about a mixed potential at the cathode causing both the loss of fuel and cell polarization impeding their commercial realization. [4][5][6] It has been reported that even over 40% of methanol could be lost in a DMFC due to crossover across the membrane. 7 Methanol crossover across the Nafion membrane can be kept to a minimum by controlling the methanol-feed concentration.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

PVA-PSSA Membrane with Interpenetrating Networks and its Methanol Crossover Mitigating Effect in DMFCs

Sahu

Selvarani

Pitchumani

et al. 2008

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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A membrane with interpenetrating networks between poly͑vinyl alcohol͒ ͑PVA͒ and poly͑styrene sulfonic acid͒ ͑PSSA͒ coupled with a high proton conductivity is realized and evaluated as a proton exchange membrane electrolyte for a direct methanol fuel cell ͑DMFC͒. Its reduced methanol permeability and improved performance in DMFCs suggest the new blend as an alternative membrane to Nafion membranes. The membrane has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, time-modulated differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis in conjunction with its mechanical strength. The maximum proton conductivity of 3.3 ϫ 10 −2 S/cm for the PVA-PSSA blend membrane is observed at 373 K. From nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and volume localized spectroscopy experiments, the PVA-PSSA membrane has been found to exhibit a promising methanol impermeability, in DMFCs. On evaluating its utility in a DMFC, it has been found that a peak power density of 90 mW/cm 2 at a load current density of 320 mA/cm 2 is achieved with the PVA-PSSA membrane compared to a peak power density of 75 mW/cm 2 at a load current density of 250 mA/cm 2 achievable for a DMFC employing Nafion membrane electrolyte while operating under identical conditions; this is attributed primarily to the methanol crossover mitigating property of the PVA-PSSA membrane. Direct methanol fuel cells ͑DMFCs͒ using a proton exchange membrane have been identified as one of the most promising candidates for portable power applications.1,2 Unlike hydrogen-air polymer electrolyte fuel cells, DMFCs do not require a fuel reformer or a high-volume hydrogen storage system. The membrane electrolyte employed with the DMFC, besides exhibiting a good proton conductivity, should act as a physical separator to prevent fuel crossover from the anode to the cathode. At present, Nafion a perfluorosulfonated membrane with a hydrophobic fluorocarbon backbone and hydrophilic sulfonic acid pendant side chains, happens to be the only commercially available and widely used membrane electrolyte in the DMFC. It has been documented that proton conduction in Nafion occurs through the ionic channels formed by micro-or nanophase separation between the hydrophilic proton exchange sites and the hydrophobic domains.3 However, the methanol crossover from anode to cathode across the Nafion membrane brings about a mixed potential at the cathode causing both the loss of fuel and cell polarization impeding their commercial realization. [4][5][6] It has been reported that even over 40% of methanol could be lost in a DMFC due to crossover across the membrane.7 Methanol crossover across the Nafion membrane can be kept to a minimum by controlling the methanol-feed concentration. Alternatively, membranes that are relatively impermeable to methanol have been employed for this purpose. [8][9][10][11][12] Membranes with a lower methanol permeability allow a higher methanol-feed concentration, enhancing the performance of the DMFC. To optimize fuel cell performance, it is neces...

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Advances in direct oxidation methanol fuel cells

Cited by 308 publications

References 3 publications

Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol and Dimethyl Ether: From Greenhouse Gas to Renewable, Environmentally Carbon Neutral Fuels and Synthetic Hydrocarbons

Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol and Dimethyl Ether: From Greenhouse Gas to Renewable, Environmentally Carbon Neutral Fuels and Synthetic Hydrocarbons

Bifunctional anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

PVA-PSSA Membrane with Interpenetrating Networks and its Methanol Crossover Mitigating Effect in DMFCs

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