Conductance and methanol crossover investigation of nafion membranes in a vapor-fed DMFC

A major improvement in the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) can be expected with a decreasing methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode side of the cell. We know that the water and methanol uptake of Nafion and Nafion-like proton conductors is smaller from a gaseous phase tha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2003-07, Vol.150 (6), p.A765-A769
Main Authors: KALLO, Josef, LEHNERT, Wernes, VON HELMOLT, Rittmar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
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Summary:A major improvement in the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) can be expected with a decreasing methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode side of the cell. We know that the water and methanol uptake of Nafion and Nafion-like proton conductors is smaller from a gaseous phase than from a liquid phase and therefore the methanol concentration in the membrane itself has to be smaller. The focus of our investigations is the performance of a fuel cell with a gaseous feed of methanol/water at the anode under elevated cell temperatures. The following work investigates the conductivity of a DMFC with a polymer electrolyte membrane (Nafion Ixx) acting as the proton conductor for operating temperatures around 393 K as a function of the cell humidification parameter (pressure, relative humidity of the air). Furthermore it takes into consideration the membrane conductivity and the methanol crossover through the membrane as a function of the cell temperature.
ISSN:0013-4651
1945-7111
DOI:10.1149/1.1570819