Effect of the Anode Structure on the Performance of Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells

Single MEA direct formic acid fuel cells were assembled using various anode diffusion electrodes and various Nafion/Pd black ratios for the catalyst layers. Power densities above 100 mW cm-2 were obtained at room temperature with 10 M formic acid fed to the anode and O2 at atmospheric pressure fed t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ECS transactions 2008-10, Vol.16 (2), p.647-656
Main Authors: Chenitz, Régis, Dodelet, Jean-Pol
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Single MEA direct formic acid fuel cells were assembled using various anode diffusion electrodes and various Nafion/Pd black ratios for the catalyst layers. Power densities above 100 mW cm-2 were obtained at room temperature with 10 M formic acid fed to the anode and O2 at atmospheric pressure fed to the cathode. The best results were obtained when untreated carbon cloth was used as the anode diffusion layer and with a catalyst layer composed of equal volumes of Nafion and Pd black electrocatalyst. We have also observed increased performance of the MEA when the flow of formic acid is drastically reduced, probably due to a better evacuation of CO2; the gas produced at the anode due to the oxidation of formic acid.
ISSN:1938-5862
1938-6737
DOI:10.1149/1.2981900