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Performance restoration of direct methanol fuel cells in long-term operation using a hydrogen evolution method

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  • Mehmood, Asad
  • Ha, Heung Yong

Abstract

A detailed study has been carried out to investigate the changes taking place in the electrodes of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) upon their exposure to the hydrogen gas that is electrochemically evolved in situ in the electrodes. It is found that the individual, as well as the combined, H2 evolution treatment of both the anode and the cathode for a short amount of time causes a substantial improvement in the cell performance, which is attributed to their improved catalytic activities. The exposure of Pt and PtRu catalysts to evolved H2 is beneficial in reducing the surface oxides that are formed during DMFC operation. The performance losses originating from the catalyst oxidation in a continuous operation are successfully recovered by the H2 evolution method, and the DMFC has experienced a voltage loss of only 15mV during a 1383h durability test. These results show the effectiveness of using the H2 evolution method to reduce catalyst oxides and recover the performance losses of a DMFC. Various physical and electrochemical analyses are carried out to fully understand the mechanism and the consequences of the H2 evolution treatment in DMFCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehmood, Asad & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "Performance restoration of direct methanol fuel cells in long-term operation using a hydrogen evolution method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 164-171.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:114:y:2014:i:c:p:164-171
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.09.042
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Achmad, F. & Kamarudin, S.K. & Daud, W.R.W. & Majlan, E.H., 2011. "Passive direct methanol fuel cells for portable electronic devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1681-1689, May.
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    3. Lo, An-Ya & Hung, Chin-Te & Yu, Ningya & Kuo, Cheng-Tzu & Liu, Shang-Bin, 2012. "Syntheses of carbon porous materials with varied pore sizes and their performances as catalyst supports during methanol oxidation reaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 66-74.
    4. Prater, Daniel N. & Rusek, John J., 2003. "Energy density of a methanol/hydrogen-peroxide fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(1-2), pages 135-140, January.
    5. Seo, Sang Hern & Lee, Chang Sik, 2010. "A study on the overall efficiency of direct methanol fuel cell by methanol crossover current," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(8), pages 2597-2604, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiu, Yu-Jen & Leon Yu, T., 2014. "A discrete Fourier transform-based fuel concentration and permeation sensing scheme for low temperature fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 123-131.
    2. Liu, Guicheng & Li, Xinyang & Wang, Hui & Liu, Xiuying & Chen, Ming & Woo, Jae Young & Kim, Ji Young & Wang, Xindong & Lee, Joong Kee, 2017. "Design of 3-electrode system for in situ monitoring direct methanol fuel cells during long-time running test at high temperature," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 163-168.
    3. An, Myung-Gi & Mehmood, Asad & Hwang, Jinyeon & Ha, Heung Yong, 2016. "A novel method of methanol concentration control through feedback of the amplitudes of output voltage fluctuations for direct methanol fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 217-226.
    4. An, Myung-Gi & Mehmood, Asad & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "Sensor-less control of the methanol concentration of direct methanol fuel cells at varying ambient temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 104-111.
    5. Mehmood, Asad & An, Myung-Gi & Ha, Heung Yong, 2014. "Physical degradation of cathode catalyst layer: A major contributor to accelerated water flooding in long-term operation of DMFCs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 346-353.

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